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

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dc.contributor.authorVan Hooff, M.
dc.contributor.authorMcFarlane, A.
dc.contributor.authorDavies, C.
dc.contributor.authorSearle, A.
dc.contributor.authorFairweather-Schmidt, A.
dc.contributor.authorVerhagen, A.
dc.contributor.authorBenassi, H.
dc.contributor.authorHodson, S.
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: 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.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMiranda Van Hooff, Alexander C. McFarlane, Christopher E. Davies, Amelia K. Searle, A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt, Alan Verhagen, Helen Benassi, and Stephanie E. Hodson
dc.identifier.citationEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2014; 5(1):1-12
dc.identifier.doi10.3402/ejpt.v5.23950
dc.identifier.issn2000-8066
dc.identifier.issn2000-8066
dc.identifier.orcidVan Hooff, M. [0000-0002-9376-3714]
dc.identifier.orcidMcFarlane, A. [0000-0002-3829-9509]
dc.identifier.orcidDavies, C. [0000-0001-6595-8656]
dc.identifier.orcidSearle, A. [0000-0002-8602-0146]
dc.identifier.orcidFairweather-Schmidt, A. [0000-0001-9352-9648]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/89164
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherCo-Action Publishing
dc.rights© 2014 Miranda Van Hooff et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that you indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.23950
dc.subjectPrevalence
dc.subjectaffective
dc.subjectalcohol
dc.subjectanxiety
dc.subjectmental disorder
dc.subjectmilitary
dc.titleThe Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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