@techreport{7d8aa8b3553947ddacdc6e9227d16e52,
title = "Adverse Mental Health Outcomes and Alcohol Misuse Among UK Armed Forces Personnel: A 20-Year Cohort Study of Military Personnel Who Served During the Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts",
abstract = "BackgroundTwenty years since the start of UK Armed Forces participation in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts post-2001, the extent to which these deployments continue to impact mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse in UK military personnel is unknown.MethodsThis is the fourth phase of a longitudinal cohort study that has assessed the health and wellbeing of UK serving and ex-serving personnel since 2004. Participants were eligible for the most recent phase (2022–2023) if they took part previously (2014–2016) and consented to recontact. Primary outcome measures included symptoms of Common Mental Disorders (CMD), probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD) and alcohol misuse. FindingsIn the overall sample (n=4104, response rate = 54·6%), CMD were the most prevalent outcome (27·8%), followed by probable PTSD (9·4%) and alcohol misuse (8·4%). The majority of PTSD experienced met the criteria for C-PTSD. Ex-serving Regulars compared to serving Regulars reported higher rates of PTSD and C-PTSD; higher rates of both disorders were also reported in serving/ex-serving Regulars whose last deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan was in a combat role. Since the previous phase, rates of CMD and PTSD have increased, and alcohol misuse has remained high but relatively stable.InterpretationAlthough the majority of those who deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan remain well, there is an enduring impact of combat deployment on the rates of PTSD. Attention should continue to be directed towards the prevention and treatment of adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse in this cohort.FundingOffice for Veterans{\textquoteright} Affairs, Cabinet Office, UK Government",
keywords = "Mental health, CMD, PTSD, alcohol misuse, C-PTSD, Military, Veteran, cohort, Iraq, Afghanistan.",
author = "Marie-Louise Sharp and Jennifer Stone and Neil Greenberg and Dominic Murphy and Deirdre MacManus and Simon Wessely and Stevelink, {Sharon A. M.} and Fear, {Nicola T.} and Margaret Jones and Sofia Franchini and Ray Leal and Lisa Hull and Niamh Molloy and Howard Burdett and Daniel Leightley and Amos Simms",
year = "2024",
month = dec,
day = "13",
doi = "10.2139/ssrn.5053147",
language = "English",
series = "THELANCETPUBLICHEALTH-D-24-01983",
type = "WorkingPaper",
}
