Irritable bowel syndrome in the UK military after deployment to Iraq: what are the risk factors?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Irritable bowel syndrome in the UK military after deployment to Iraq

T2 - what are the risk factors?

AU - Goodwin, Laura

AU - Bourke, Julius H.

AU - Forbes, Harriet

AU - Hotopf, Matthew

AU - Hull, Lisa

AU - Jones, Norman

AU - Rona, Roberto J.

AU - Wessely, Simon

AU - Fear, Nicola T.

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - Diarrhoea and vomiting (D & V) was common in military personnel during deployment to the initial phases of the Iraq war. D & V is an established risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined the prevalence of IBS in a military sample with a history of deployment to Iraq and the association between D & V and common mental disorder (CMD) with IBS.The study used data from a two-phase cohort study of military/personnel. The sample was restricted to individuals who had been deployed to Iraq before phase 1 of the study and who had completed the self-report D & V question. A measure of probable IBS was derived at both phases of the study based on self-reported symptoms in the previous month. CMD was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).Fifty-nine percent of the sample reported a D & V event and 6.6 % met the criteria for probable IBS at phase 1. Reporting D & V, thinking one might be killed on deployment, poor physical health and CMD were associated with probable IBS at phase 1. CMD at phase 1 was strongly associated with chronic symptoms of IBS.There was a high prevalence of D & V during deployment to the early stages of the Iraq war, yet the prevalence of probable IBS on return from deployment was relatively low. D & V was strongly associated with IBS after deployment, and CMD was a risk factor for chronic symptoms of IBS.

AB - Diarrhoea and vomiting (D & V) was common in military personnel during deployment to the initial phases of the Iraq war. D & V is an established risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined the prevalence of IBS in a military sample with a history of deployment to Iraq and the association between D & V and common mental disorder (CMD) with IBS.The study used data from a two-phase cohort study of military/personnel. The sample was restricted to individuals who had been deployed to Iraq before phase 1 of the study and who had completed the self-report D & V question. A measure of probable IBS was derived at both phases of the study based on self-reported symptoms in the previous month. CMD was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).Fifty-nine percent of the sample reported a D & V event and 6.6 % met the criteria for probable IBS at phase 1. Reporting D & V, thinking one might be killed on deployment, poor physical health and CMD were associated with probable IBS at phase 1. CMD at phase 1 was strongly associated with chronic symptoms of IBS.There was a high prevalence of D & V during deployment to the early stages of the Iraq war, yet the prevalence of probable IBS on return from deployment was relatively low. D & V was strongly associated with IBS after deployment, and CMD was a risk factor for chronic symptoms of IBS.

KW - Irritable bowel syndrome

KW - Common mental disorder

KW - Diarrhoea and vomiting

KW - Gastroenteritis

KW - Military

KW - Deployment

KW - FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

KW - PANIC DISORDER

KW - HEALTH

KW - PERSONNEL

KW - SYMPTOMS

KW - GASTROENTERITIS

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - METAANALYSIS

KW - DYSFUNCTION

KW - PROGNOSIS

KW - Acknowledged-BRC

KW - Acknowledged-BRC-13/14

U2 - 10.1007/s00127-013-0699-6

DO - 10.1007/s00127-013-0699-6

M3 - Article

SN - 0933-7954

VL - 48

SP - 1755

EP - 1765

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

IS - 11

M1 - N/A

ER -