[Description of the life quality of contracted servicemen].

There are presented results of a comprehensive study of the life quality of representatives of three reference groups of servicemen on contract: cadets of military high schools (n = 400), contracted servicemen of the units of power ministries and departments (n = 453), common soldiers and junior commanders (n = 357). The study was executed with the aid of the public survey, the performing of both psychological and functional load tests. This work is notable for the complexation of indices which characterize socio-hygienic, psychological and medical aspects of the life quality, life values, life satisfaction, and specific features of the military profession. Results of the study, which differ from the prior investigation by inclusion of indices characterizing the specific features of military-professional activity, lifestyle and spirituality, for the first time made it possible to assess the life quality related to health, taking into account the axiological values in life and important needs of the studied population. Changes in the life quality indices of contract servicemen were shown to be more sensitive to changes in their health than the traditional clinical-laboratory and instrumental data, which allows to recommend a wide practical use of the monitoring the life quality for professional selection and medical support of the military service, including the implementation of measures on optimization of psychological climate in military units, and the personification of the complex of therapeutic-recreational measures. The results allow us to recommend to military medical commissions of military commissariats in the call of citizens for military service under contract to carry out studies of quality and lifestyle of recruits for the early detection of groups of risk for their health. The program of in-depth medical examinations of military-contract there is recommended to include research aimed at identifying adverse social and hygienic factors of service and living conditions, psychopathological personality traits, rehabilitation and psychological climate in a military collective, execution of a personalized set of therapeutic measures.

Las prácticas basadas en la evidencia en psicología y en psicología militar / The evidence-based practices in psychology and in military psychology

Tanto en el ámbito civil como en el militar las prácticas de los psicólogos han estado, muchas veces, exentas de fundamento empírico y otras se han apoyado en corrientes psicológicas tradicionales meramente teóricas. Además, aunque las intervenciones psicológicas se hayan basado en variables o aspectos demostrados en estudios previos, en demasiadas ocasiones, dichas intervenciones no habían sido validadas en muestras controladas. Afortunadamente para la profesión y sus usuarios, esta tendencia está cambiando siendo la exigencia a los psicólogos cada vez mayor y estando la psicología cada vez más en una posición sólida y de calidad demostrada

The psychological practices has not been based in evidence for many year and times and, some others, they has been supported by traditional psychological theory but not pragmatic and nether empirical. Furthermore, psychological interventions could be done including demonstrated facts but most of those interventions had never been validated in randomized controlled trial. Fortunately for the profession and its clients, this trend is changing. Increasing quality and demands are required to psychologists and psychology is getting, finally, a strong position

Behavioral health trends throughout a 9-month Brigade Combat Team deployment to Afghanistan.

This descriptive report details primarily qualitative information on behavioral health capabilities, utilization, and referral rates for a Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan for 9 months from 2012 to 2013. Limited quantitative data on standardized risk assessments throughout the deployment cycle are presented. Initial data on the postdeployment care at an embedded behavioral health clinic are also provided, with referral data comparing pre- and postdeployment periods. Lessons learned for providing brigade-level behavioral health services during combat deployments are discussed, including consultation with the rear detachment, utilization of telehealth assets, and distributing the network of care throughout the battlespace.

Psychological intervention in the spanish military deployed on international operations / Intervención psicológica en militares españoles desplegados en operaciones internacionales

BACKGROUND: Spain was one of the first countries to recognize the importance of psychological aspects in the planning and development of international military operations, and also to include military psychologists in contingents deployed abroad. METHOD: This paper describes the psychological intervention model used by Spanish military psychologists involved in military operations abroad. RESULTS: This model is comprised of a systematic set of interventions and actions carried out in the different phases of any military operation (concentration, deployment and post-mission). It also contemplates the intervention not only in personnel who integrate the military contingents, but also with their families and, at certain times of the mission, with the local population of the area in which the operation is carried out. CONCLUSIONS: The model presented has a preventive orientation, based on the selection and psychological preparation of contingents before deployment, and supplemented by support in the area of operations for personnel who need it, and the psychological care of their families in Spain. Whereas this model has been effective so far, in this work, we present a series of measures aimed at improving the psychological well-being of our troops deployed outside our country

ANTECEDENTES: España ha sido pionera en reconocer la importancia de los aspectos psicológicos en la planificación y desarrollo de las operaciones militares internacionales, y en incluir a psicólogos en los contingentes desplegados en ellas. MÉTODO: este trabajo describe el modelo de intervención psicológica utilizado por los psicólogos militares españoles que participan en misiones y operaciones en el exterior. RESULTADO: dicho modelo está conformado por un conjunto sistematizado de intervenciones y actuaciones que se llevan a cabo en las distintas fases que componen toda operación militar (concentración, despliegue y postmisión). Igualmente contempla la intervención tanto en el personal que integra los contingentes militares, como en sus familias y, en determinados momentos de la misión, en la población local de la zona en que se desarrolla. CONCLUSIONES: el modelo presentado posee una orientación claramente preventiva, basada en la selección y preparación psicológica del contingente antes del despliegue, y complementada con la asistencia en zona de operaciones al personal que lo requiera y la atención a sus familias en territorio nacional. Pese a la eficacia de dicho modelo, se analizan sus limitaciones y se exponen algunas medidas para mejorar el bienestar psicológico de nuestras tropas desplegadas en el exterior

Suicide and war: the mediating effects of negative mood, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and social support among army National Guard soldiers.

The mediating effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, negative mood, and social support on the relationship of war experiences to suicidality were examined. The research literature suggested a sequence among study scales representing these constructs, which was then tested on survey data obtained from a sample of National Guard soldiers (N=4,546). Results from structural equation modeling suggested that war experiences may precipitate a sequence of psychological consequences leading to suicidality. However, suicidality may be an enduring behavioral health condition. War experiences showed no direct effects on postdeployment suicidality, rather its effect was indirect through PTSD symptoms and negative mood. War experiences were, however, predictive of PTSD symptoms, as would be expected. PSTD symptoms showed no direct effect on postdeployment suicidality, but showed indirect effects through negative mood. Results also suggested that suicidality is relatively persistent, at least during deployment and postdeployment. The percentage of those at risk for suicide was low both during and after deployment, with little association between suicidality and time since returning from deployment. Additionally, few soldiers were initially nonsuicidal and then reported such symptoms at postdeployment. Implications of relationships of both negative mood and combat trauma to suicidality are discussed, as well as possible mediating effects of both personal dispositions and social support on relationships of war experiences to PTSD, negative mood, and suicidality.

Diferencias de personalidad en la aptitud psicológica para el buceo militar / Personality differences in the psychological fitness for military diving

El buceo es una actividad atractiva, cuyo ejercicio se propaga continuamente en su faceta deportiva y profesional; esta popularidad en ocasiones disminuye la conciencia de que se desarrolla en un medio no natural, repleto de factores estresantes, que exige un proceso adaptativo por parte del buceador con el fin de aprovechar sus capacidades y controlar sus emociones. En este trabajo se analizan, siguiendo la línea de investigación sobre diferencias individuales, datos obtenidos en una amplia muestra de personal militar que realiza cursos de buceo (N = 1217), con el objetivo de verificar la utilidad de la evaluación psicológica. Se comprueban diferencias entre los buceadores y la población general, entre aspirantes a buceo que finalizan la formación y los que causan baja durante el curso y, además, entre los buceadores que tienen distinto nivel de rendimiento. Las características de personalidad más relevantes tienen significación estadística y clínica para la adaptación a las demandas del medio subacuático. Los datos obtenidos apoyan la importancia de la ansiedad y reacciones emocionales en buceo y la conveniencia de evaluar la aptitud psicológica de quienes se dediquen a esta actividad, como una de las primeras medidas de prevención ante los posibles incidentes y accidentes de buceo (AU)

Diving is an attractive activity, which is becoming increasingly more popular in sports and professional fields. This popularity sometimes decreases the awareness that is developed in a non-natural environment, full of stressors, which requires an adaptive process by the divers to make the most of their capabilities and control their emotions. This paper, following the line of research of individual differences, analyses data coming from a large sample of military personnel who perform diving courses (N = 1217) in order to verify the utility of psychological evaluation in this field. Differences between divers and general population, between candidates who have completed dive training and candidates who did not, and also between divers with different levels of performance have been proved. The most important differences in personality characteristics have statistical and clinical significance for adaptation to the demands of the underwater environment. The resulting data support the importance of anxiety and emotional reactions in diving and the convenience of evaluating the psychological fitness of those who engage in this activity, as one of the first preventive measures against possible incidents and accidents in diving (AU)

Reported stressors and health care needs of active duty Navy personnel during three phases of deployment in support of the war in Iraq.

Literature has generously documented the stress of military members and their families during deployments in noncombat periods. Deployment has been shown to increase the needs of family members for health care, both physical and psychological. The purpose of this study was to describe the health care needs and perceived stressors of active duty members deployed to Iraq during the predeployment, mid-deployment, and postdeployment phases. Active duty Navy service members deployed on three aircraft carriers during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002-2003 were randomly selected to participate in an anonymous study that evaluated member well-being, adaptation, coping, anxiety, stress, and health care needs during three phases of deployment. Data were obtained from 474 Navy members in predeployment, 445 in mid-deployment, and 276 in postdeployment. Logistic regression analyses indicated that many variables predicted extreme anxiety during deployment, including mid-deployment phase, age of under 25 years, being childless, nonattendance at church, being enlisted, zero- or one-deployment history; no high school education, and being currently in counseling. Active duty members in all phases of deployment had equally disturbing levels of anxiety. All phases reported suicidal ideation at alarming rates (2.4% in predeployment, 4.9% in mid-deployment, and 3% in postdeployment). This study sheds new light on the stressors and subsequent health care needs of active duty members on carriers during war and provides valuable information for the prevention of high-risk anxieties and subsequent health risks for all service members during similar deployments.

Mental health evaluations of U.S. Air Force basic military training and technical training students.

A 2000 report by Staal, Cigrang, and Fiedler and a 1998 report by Cigrang, Carbone, Todd, and Fiedler described the attrition of U. S. Air Force basic military trainees due to mental health disorders for the year 1997. This article looks at the population of Air Force basic military trainees and technical training school students located at the same base during the year 2001. In addition, we look at the effect of allowing basic trainees and those in technical school to refer themselves for mental health evaluations as opposed to only evaluating those referred by secondary sources. Primary results of the data analysis suggest that mental health-related separation rates for calendar year 2001 basic military trainees are consistent with past years at 4.2%. For both basic trainees and technical school training students, adjustment disorders and depressive disorders are the top diagnostic categories related to recommendation for separation.