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Psychological Sequelae Following the Gulf War

Factors Associated with Subsequent Morbidity and the Effectiveness of Psychological Debriefing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Martin P. Deahl ,
Adrian B. Gillham ,
Janice Thomas ,
Margaret M. Searle  and
Michael Srinivasan
Martin P. Deahl*
Affiliation:
The Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital
Adrian B. Gillham
Affiliation:
Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot
Janice Thomas
Affiliation:
The Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London
Margaret M. Searle
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich, London
Michael Srinivasan
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich, London
*
Dr M. P. Deahl, The Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
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Background

The aim was to study the effect of brief counselling and psychological debriefing following a trauma on subsequent morbidity.

Method

We investigated psychological morbidity in 62 British soldiers whose duties included the handling and identification of dead bodies of allied and enemy soldiers during the Gulf War. Of these soldiers, 69% received a psychological debriefing on completion of their duties. The subjects completed by post a demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Impact of Events Scale.

Results

After nine months 50% had evidence of some psychological disturbance suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); 18% had sought professional help; 26% reported relationship difficulties. Neither prior training nor the psychological intervention appeared to make any difference to subsequent psychiatric morbidity. Morbidity at nine months was more likely in those with a history of psychological problems and those who believed their lives had been in danger in the Gulf.

Conclusions

These findings show that a psychological debriefing following a series of traumatic events or experiences does not appear to reduce subsequent psychiatric morbidity and highlights the need for further research in military and civilian settings.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 1 , July 1994 , pp. 60 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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