FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF BRITISH MILITARY HOSTAGES AND THEIR FAMILIES HELD IN KUWAIT DURING THE GULF-WAR

On 2 August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and held hostage all its inhabita nts. Amongst those forced to stay were 71 British servicemen and their families who were held hostage for up to four and a half months. This study investigated the mental health status of this group of individu als at 6 and 18 months after the final hostage was released. Participa nts completed the Impact of Event Scale and the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire at both 6 and 18 months. In addition the y completed a questionnaire regarding background factors, the dimensio ns of the trauma and the effects of their hostage experience. The Impa ct of Event Scale scores changed little over time whereas the General Health Questionnaire scores reduced significantly (p = .001) over the 12-month period suggesting that despite ongoing intrusive and avoidanc e phenomena levels of psychological distress did reduce. Those variabl es most strongly associated with a poor psychological outcome were wit nessing physical violence and perceived deterioration in physical and mental health. Poor outcome at 6 months was strongly correlated with p oor outcome at 18 months.