The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods

Abstract

Background

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population.

Objective

The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods, and identify specific occupational factors that influence mental health. This paper describes the design, sampling strategies, and methodology used in this study.

Method

At Phase 1, approximately half of all regular Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel (n=24,481) completed self-report questionnaires. At Phase 2, a stratified sub-sample (n=1,798) completed a structured diagnostic interview to detect mental disorder. Based on data from non-responders, data were weighted to represent the entire ADF population (n=50,049).

Results

One in five ADF members met criteria for a 12-month mental disorder (22%). The most common disorder category was anxiety disorders (14.8%), followed by affective (9.5%) and alcohol disorders (5.2%). At risk ADF sub-groups were Army personnel, and those in the lower ranks. Deployment status did not have an impact on mental disorder rates.

Conclusion

This study has important implications for mental health service delivery for Australian and international military personnel as well as contemporary veterans.

• Prevalence
• military
• mental disorder
• affective
• anxiety
• alcohol

For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Article Tools online

This paper is part of the Special Issue: PTSD in the military: prevalence, pathophysiology, treatment. More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.eurojnlofpsychotraumatol.net

For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Article Tools online

This paper is part of the Special Issue: PTSD in the military: prevalence, pathophysiology, treatment. More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.eurojnlofpsychotraumatol.net

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following: Nicole Steele (co-investigator), ADF personnel for their generous time and support, MHPWS statisticians (Dr. Thao Tran and Michelle Lorimer), MHPWS Scientific Advisory Committee (Professors Scott Henderson, Bryan Rogers, David Dunt, Mark Creamer, David Forbes, Richard Bryant, and Michael Moore), MEAO Investigators, MEAO Scientific Advisory Committee, ADF Mental Health Advisory Group, CTSS University of Adelaide, MHPWS Interviewers, Mental Health Psychology and Rehabilitation Branch—Joint Health Command, Office of Commander Joint Health, Deployed Health Surveillance (including MEAO) Program Management Board and Project Management Office, Operations and Communications Working Group, Data Management Working Group, Directorate of Strategic Personnel Policy and Research, Australia Post, Complexia, Data Management and Analysis Centre —University of Adelaide, Newspoll.

Conflict of interest and funding

This work was supported and funded by The Australian Department of Defence. It represents collaboration between the University of Adelaide Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the Directorate of Strategic and Operational Mental Health in the Mental Health, Psychology, and Rehabilitation branch of Joint Health Command (JHC, ADF). Data were derived from the Military Health Outcomes Program - a combined data set including the Health and Wellbeing Survey (CTSS and JHC), and the Middle East Area of Operations Census and Prospective Surveys (Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health) (Davy et al., 2012; Dobson et al., 2012). The views expressed in this article, however, are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Australian Department of Defence. There is no conflict of interest in the present study for any of the authors.

Notes

For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Article Tools online

This paper is part of the Special Issue: PTSD in the military: prevalence, pathophysiology, treatment. More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.eurojnlofpsychotraumatol.net

¹As at 11th December 2009, identified through military records.