PSYCHOLOGICAL SEQUELAE FOLLOWING THE GULF-WAR - FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSEQUENT MORBIDITY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DEBRIEFING

Background. The aim was to study the effect of brief counselling and p sychological debriefing following a trauma on subsequent morbidity. Me thod. We investigated psychological morbidity in 62 British soldiers w hose 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. Th e 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 pro fessional help 26% reported relationship difficulties. Neither prior t raining nor the psychological intervention appeared to make any differ ence to subsequent psychiatric morbidity. Morbidity at nine months was more likely in those with a history of psychological problems and tho se who believed their lives had been in danger in the Gulf. Conclusion s. These findings show that a psychological debriefing following a ser ies of traumatic events or experiences does not appear to reduce subse quent psychiatric morbidity and highlights the need for further resear ch in military and civilian settings.