Canadian Forces Health Services Group Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario.
Can J Psychiatry. 2012 Dec;57(12):736-44. doi: 10.1177/070674371205701205.
The deployed environment poses special challenges to the delivery of effective in-theatre mental health care. Our study sought to identify the prevalence and impact of symptoms of mental health problems in Canadian Forces (CF) personnel serving in Task Force Afghanistan; and, to determine the use of, and perceived need for, mental health services in CF personnel while deployed.
Our study consisted of a cross-sectional survey of all 2779 CF personnel deployed to the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan, from February 15, 2010, to March 15, 2010.
An important minority (8.5%) of the 1572 respondents (response rate = 57%) exceeded civilian criteria for symptoms of acute traumatic stress, major depression, or generalized anxiety. Prevalence of these 3 mental health problems increased with higher combat exposure and location in more isolated posts. A much larger fraction (31%) reported suffering a stress, emotional, alcohol, or family problem during the deployment. Only a minority of respondents with a mental health problem (26%) were currently interested in getting help. Almost one-half of respondents with a mental health problem perceived occupational dysfunction as a result, though two-thirds of respondents with occupational dysfunction were in the group without the 3 mental health problems assessed.
The needs base for psychosocial support extends beyond personnel who meet conventional questionnaire criteria for traumatic stress, depression, or generalized anxiety. Future research is needed to understand what precise problems are driving this larger needs base and what precise supports (clinical or nonclinical) would be most appropriate.
部署环境对提供有效的战区心理健康护理带来了特殊挑战。我们的研究旨在确定在阿富汗特遣部队服役的加拿大部队（CF）人员中出现心理健康问题症状的普遍性和影响，并确定在部署期间 CF 人员对心理健康服务的使用情况和需求。
我们的研究包括对 2010 年 2 月 15 日至 2010 年 3 月 15 日部署到坎大哈省的 2779 名 CF 人员进行的横断面调查。
在 1572 名受访者中（回应率=57%），有相当一部分（8.5%）超过了平民急性创伤后应激、重度抑郁或广泛性焦虑的症状标准。这 3 种心理健康问题的患病率随着战斗暴露程度的增加和在较孤立哨所的位置而增加。更大比例（31%）的人在部署期间报告了压力、情绪、酒精或家庭问题。只有少数（26%）有心理健康问题的受访者目前有兴趣寻求帮助。近一半有心理健康问题的受访者认为这会导致职业功能障碍，但三分之二的职业功能障碍受访者并不属于我们评估的 3 种心理健康问题人群。
心理社会支持的需求基础超出了符合创伤后应激、抑郁或广泛性焦虑常规问卷标准的人员。需要进一步研究以了解是什么确切的问题导致了这一更大的需求基础，以及什么样的支持（临床或非临床）最适合。
