Combat stress casualties in Iraq. Part 1: behavioral health consultation at an expeditionary medical group

Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2008 Jul;44(3):146-58. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2008.00169.x.

Abstract

Purpose: We review the role of military mental health professionals in consulting with inpatient medical patients and staff at a combat hospital and aeromedical evacuation staging facility in Iraq.

Conclusions: Behavioral health consultation with medical and surgical patients during hospitalization and prior to aeromedical evacuation can help identify patients with combat stress exposure that may require future mental health follow-up.

Practice implications: Extensive use of civilian mental health practitioners including nurse psychotherapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will be needed to provide psychiatric care for the large number of U.S. veterans who return from deployment with combat stress related disorders.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Combat Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Combat Disorders* / psychology
  • Combat Disorders* / therapy
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Military
  • Humans
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Military Nursing / education
  • Military Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Military Personnel* / psychology
  • Military Psychiatry / organization & administration
  • Models, Organizational
  • Nurse's Role
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration*
  • Psychiatric Nursing / education
  • Psychiatric Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Psychology, Clinical / organization & administration
  • Referral and Consultation / organization & administration
  • Social Work, Psychiatric / organization & administration
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
  • Transportation of Patients
  • Triage
  • United States