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Cited by 89Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMental Health Treatment and AccessMigration, Health and Trauma

Canadian Military Personnel's Population Attributable Fractions of Mental Disorders and Mental Health Service Use Associated With Combat and Peacekeeping Operations

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Sareen, Jitender, Belik, Shay-Lee, Afifi, Tracie O., Asmundson, Gordon J. G., Cox, Brian J., Stein, Murray B.·2008·American Journal of Public Health
DOI 10.2105/ajph.2008.134205PMC PMC2636534
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Abstract

Objectives. We investigated mental disorders, suicidal ideation, self-perceived need for treatment, and mental health service utilization attributable to exposure to peacekeeping and combat operations among Canadian military personnel. Methods. With data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 Canadian Forces Supplement, a cross-sectional population-based survey of active Canadian military personnel (N = 8441), we estimated population attributable fractions (PAFs) of adverse mental health outcomes. Results. Exposure to either combat or peacekeeping operations was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (men: PAF = 46.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 27.3, 62.7; women: PAF = 23.6%; 95% CI = 9.2, 40.1), 1 or more mental disorder assessed in the survey (men: PAF = 9.3%; 95% CI = 0.4, 18.1; women: PAF = 6.1%; 95% CI = 0.0, 13.4), and a perceived need for information (men: PAF = 12.3%; 95% CI = 4.1, 20.6; women: PAF = 7.9%; 95% CI = 1.3, 15.5). Conclusions. A substantial proportion, but not the majority, of mental health–related outcomes were attributable to combat or peacekeeping deployment. Future studies should assess traumatic events and their association with physical injury during deployment, premilitary factors, and postdeployment psychosocial factors that may influence soldiers’ mental health.

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  • Trauma exposure is unlikely to be the only, or even the most important, factor for mental health.

    “This suggests trauma exposure is unlikely the only, or even the most important, factor for mental health.49,50”

    From Mental Disorder Symptoms among Public Safety Personnel in Canada (2018) · cites this paper as [49]

    The Discussion says a minority of mental health problems in active military personnel is attributable to combat and identifies other likely risk factors. This supports the claim’s general point, but the paper studied combat and peacekeeping deployment, not trauma exposure itself; its Limitations say detailed information on traumatic events was unavailable. The unqualified claim about mental health is broader than the population and exposures studied. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • The current data cannot inform the proportion of symptoms related specifically to service.

    “however, the current data cannot inform the proportion of symptoms related specifically to service.49”

    From Mental Disorder Symptoms among Public Safety Personnel in Canada (2018) · cites this paper as [49]

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Authors
Sareen, J., Belik, S.-L., Afifi, T. O., Asmundson, G. J. G., Cox, B. J., & Stein, M. B.
Affiliations
University of Regina (CA)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Public Health
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Published
2008-12
Volume
98
Issue
12
Pages
2191-2198
ISSN
  • 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-0048
DOI
10.2105/ajph.2008.134205
PMC
PMC2636534
OpenAlex
W2017585672
Cited by
89
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
FWCI
4.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K24MH064122, K24MH64122)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
Keywords
military personnel, combat exposure, peacekeeping, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness, suicidal ideation, mental health service utilization, population attributable fraction, Canadian Armed Forces, gender differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Canada, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Military Personnel, Patient Education as Topic, Population Surveillance, Surveys and Questionnaires, Relief Work, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Suicide, Attempted, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Needs Assessment, Young Adult

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