Demographic and clinical characteristics of UK military veterans attending a psychological therapies service

Giebel, Clarissa M.; Clarkson, Paul; Challis, David

Abstract

© 2014 The Authors. Aims and method To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of subgroups of UK veterans attending a dedicated psychological therapies service following the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) treatment model. Veterans accessing a newly established service in the north-west were categorised into three groups: early service leavers, those with a physical disability, and substance and/or alcohol misusers. Anxiety, depression and social functioning were measured pre- and post-treatment. Results Veterans vary in their demographic and clinical characteristics as well as in treatment efficacy, as measured by the post-treatment scores on probable depression and anxiety. Therapy appears to be most effective in early service leavers, whereas veterans with a physical disability or a substance or alcohol misuse problem tend not to do as well in terms of symptoms of depression or anxiety. Clinical implications This study highlights the importance of targeting different veteran subgroups for dedicated psychological therapy.

Citation

Giebel, C. M., Clarkson, P., & Challis, D. (2014). Demographic and clinical characteristics of UK military veterans attending a psychological therapies service. Psychiatric Bulletin, 38(6), 270-275. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.113.046474

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 31, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jan 2, 2018
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jul 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 24, 2020
• Journal: Psychiatric Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0955-6036
• Electronic ISSN: 1472-1473
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 270-275
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.113.046474
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3752114
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-psychiatric-bulletin/article/demographic-and-clinical-characteristics-of-uk-military-veterans-attending-a-psychological-therapies-service/F2571ED3237433CD867920C302547A8D
• Additional Information: Psychiatric Bulletin became BJPsych Bulletin in 2015.