Auswirkungen kritischer Ereignisse bei Auslandseinsätzen auf die psychische Gesundheit von Militärpersonal

Lucas Konhäuser; Karl-Heinz Renner; Hubertus Himmerich; Gerd Willmund; Peter Lutz Zimmermann; Jan Philipp Krüger; Ulrich Wesemann

doi:10.1055/a-2448-3968

Auswirkungen kritischer Ereignisse bei Auslandseinsätzen auf die psychische Gesundheit von Militärpersonal

Translated title of the contribution: Impact of Critical Events During Deployments on the Mental Health of Military Personnel

Lucas Konhäuser, Karl-Heinz Renner, Hubertus Himmerich, Gerd Willmund, Peter Lutz Zimmermann, Jan Philipp Krüger, Ulrich Wesemann

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Introduction Deployments abroad pose an occupational risk for mental disorders and reduced quality of life among military personnel. This study examines the question of whether a relevant predictor for the frequency of mental disorders after deployments abroad can be found. It is postulated that soldiers who experience a military-specific critical event develop more symptoms and their quality of life decreases. methods This study included n = 370 combat troops deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation. Using questionnaires, data on psychological symptoms and quality of life were collected before and after deployment. The discriminator was whether a critical military-specific event, defined as a type A criterion of PTSD according to ICD-10 (F43.1), was experienced during the deployment. Results It was shown that soldiers who experienced a critical event (n = 81; 21.9 %) developed significantly more depressive, somatic and stress symptoms. When evaluating the questionnaires on the quality of life, significant deteriorations were found in all areas, apart from environmental quality of life. In the study group without a critical event, there were significant improvements in stress experience and environmental quality of life after deployment. When the entire group was included, a time x group interaction effect was found with deterioration in soldiers with critical events in all of the above-mentioned areas, apart from the environmental quality of life. conclusion In summary, it can be postulated that critical events during a deployment abroad have a significant impact on the mental health and quality of life of soldiers. This can be used for more specific pre- and post-operation measures as well as for de-stigmatization programs.

Translated title of the contribution	Impact of Critical Events During Deployments on the Mental Health of Military Personnel
Original language	German
Journal	Das Gesundheitswesen
Early online date	2 Nov 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2448-3968
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 2 Nov 2024

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title = "Auswirkungen kritischer Ereignisse bei Auslandseins{\"a}tzen auf die psychische Gesundheit von Milit{\"a}rpersonal",

abstract = "Introduction Deployments abroad pose an occupational risk for mental disorders and reduced quality of life among military personnel. This study examines the question of whether a relevant predictor for the frequency of mental disorders after deployments abroad can be found. It is postulated that soldiers who experience a military-specific critical event develop more symptoms and their quality of life decreases. methods This study included n = 370 combat troops deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation. Using questionnaires, data on psychological symptoms and quality of life were collected before and after deployment. The discriminator was whether a critical military-specific event, defined as a type A criterion of PTSD according to ICD-10 (F43.1), was experienced during the deployment. Results It was shown that soldiers who experienced a critical event (n = 81; 21.9 %) developed significantly more depressive, somatic and stress symptoms. When evaluating the questionnaires on the quality of life, significant deteriorations were found in all areas, apart from environmental quality of life. In the study group without a critical event, there were significant improvements in stress experience and environmental quality of life after deployment. When the entire group was included, a time x group interaction effect was found with deterioration in soldiers with critical events in all of the above-mentioned areas, apart from the environmental quality of life. conclusion In summary, it can be postulated that critical events during a deployment abroad have a significant impact on the mental health and quality of life of soldiers. This can be used for more specific pre- and post-operation measures as well as for de-stigmatization programs.",

author = "Lucas Konh{\"a}user and Karl-Heinz Renner and Hubertus Himmerich and Gerd Willmund and Zimmermann, {Peter Lutz} and Kr{\"u}ger, {Jan Philipp} and Ulrich Wesemann",

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doi = "10.1055/a-2448-3968",

language = "German",

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T1 - Auswirkungen kritischer Ereignisse bei Auslandseinsätzen auf die psychische Gesundheit von Militärpersonal

AU - Konhäuser, Lucas

AU - Renner, Karl-Heinz

AU - Himmerich, Hubertus

AU - Willmund, Gerd

AU - Zimmermann, Peter Lutz

AU - Krüger, Jan Philipp

AU - Wesemann, Ulrich

PY - 2024/11/2

Y1 - 2024/11/2

N2 - Introduction Deployments abroad pose an occupational risk for mental disorders and reduced quality of life among military personnel. This study examines the question of whether a relevant predictor for the frequency of mental disorders after deployments abroad can be found. It is postulated that soldiers who experience a military-specific critical event develop more symptoms and their quality of life decreases. methods This study included n = 370 combat troops deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation. Using questionnaires, data on psychological symptoms and quality of life were collected before and after deployment. The discriminator was whether a critical military-specific event, defined as a type A criterion of PTSD according to ICD-10 (F43.1), was experienced during the deployment. Results It was shown that soldiers who experienced a critical event (n = 81; 21.9 %) developed significantly more depressive, somatic and stress symptoms. When evaluating the questionnaires on the quality of life, significant deteriorations were found in all areas, apart from environmental quality of life. In the study group without a critical event, there were significant improvements in stress experience and environmental quality of life after deployment. When the entire group was included, a time x group interaction effect was found with deterioration in soldiers with critical events in all of the above-mentioned areas, apart from the environmental quality of life. conclusion In summary, it can be postulated that critical events during a deployment abroad have a significant impact on the mental health and quality of life of soldiers. This can be used for more specific pre- and post-operation measures as well as for de-stigmatization programs.

AB - Introduction Deployments abroad pose an occupational risk for mental disorders and reduced quality of life among military personnel. This study examines the question of whether a relevant predictor for the frequency of mental disorders after deployments abroad can be found. It is postulated that soldiers who experience a military-specific critical event develop more symptoms and their quality of life decreases. methods This study included n = 370 combat troops deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation. Using questionnaires, data on psychological symptoms and quality of life were collected before and after deployment. The discriminator was whether a critical military-specific event, defined as a type A criterion of PTSD according to ICD-10 (F43.1), was experienced during the deployment. Results It was shown that soldiers who experienced a critical event (n = 81; 21.9 %) developed significantly more depressive, somatic and stress symptoms. When evaluating the questionnaires on the quality of life, significant deteriorations were found in all areas, apart from environmental quality of life. In the study group without a critical event, there were significant improvements in stress experience and environmental quality of life after deployment. When the entire group was included, a time x group interaction effect was found with deterioration in soldiers with critical events in all of the above-mentioned areas, apart from the environmental quality of life. conclusion In summary, it can be postulated that critical events during a deployment abroad have a significant impact on the mental health and quality of life of soldiers. This can be used for more specific pre- and post-operation measures as well as for de-stigmatization programs.

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Auswirkungen kritischer Ereignisse bei Auslandseinsätzen auf die psychische Gesundheit von Militärpersonal

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