Type D Personality, Temperament, and Mental Health in Military Personnel Awaiting Deployment

Type D personality, temperament, and mental health in military personnel awaitin

Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Somali ex-combatants: A validation study

In Somalia, a large number of active and former combatants are affected by psychological problems such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), that impairs their ability to re-integrate into civilian life. This study reports on development and validation of a screening tool for PTSD in Somali language with a sample of ex-combatants.Waxaa Soomaaliya ka jira tiro badan oo askartii hore ah oo dhimirka wax ka gaaray, sida cudurka la yiraahdo "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)", kaaso isbeddel ku sameeyo qofka dad ladhaqankiisa. Darasaadkanina wuxuu horumarinayaa qalabka baaritaanka caafimaadka cudurka DPTS oo loo adeegsanayo Af-soomaaliga.In Somalia, un gran numero di soldati o ex-soldati sono affetti da problemi psicologici come il Disturbo Post-Traumatico da Stress (DPTS), che altera la capacità di re-integrarsi nella vita civile. Questo studio riporta sullo sviluppo di uno strumento di screening per il DPTS in lingua somala

Pain, distress, and anticipated recovery for older versus younger emergency department patients after motor vehicle collision

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the second most common injury mechanism resulting in emergency department (ED) visits by older adults. MVCs result in substantial pain and psychological distress among younger individuals, but little is known about the occurrence of these symptoms in older individuals. We describe the frequency of and characteristics associated with pain, distress, and anticipated time for physical and emotional recovery for older adults presenting to the ED after MVC in comparison to younger adults. Methods In-person interviews were conducted for adults presenting to one of eight EDs after MVC without an obvious fracture or injury requiring admission as part of two prospective studies. Pain severity was assessed using a 0–10 verbal scale. Distress was assessed using the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (range 0–52). Patients were asked to estimate their expected time for physical and emotional recovery; these responses were dichotomized to <30 or ≥30 days. ED pain and distress and associations between patient and collision characteristics and ED pain and distress were examined for patients age 65 years and older and patients age 18 to 64. Results Older (n = 96) and younger (n = 943) adults had the same mean pain scores (5.5, SD 2.5 vs. 5.5, SD 2.4). Distress scores were lower in older than in younger adults (15.5, SD 9 vs. 19.2, SD 10). A higher percentage of older adults than younger adults had an anticipated time to physical recovery ≥30 days (41%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 28%-55% vs. 11%, 95% CI 9%-13%). Similarly, older adults were more likely to have an anticipated time for emotional recovery ≥30 days (45%, 95% CI 35%-55% vs. 17%, 95% CI 15%-20%). Older adults were less likely than younger adults to have moderate or severe neck pain (score ≥4) (25%, 95% CI 23% to 41% vs. 54%, 95% CI 48% to 60%) or back pain (31%, 95% CI 23% to 46% vs. 56%, 95% CI 51 to 62%) but more likely to have moderate or severe chest pain (42%, 95% CI 32% to 50% vs. 20%, 95% CI 16 to 23%). Pre-MVC depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing were positively associated with pain and distress in both older and younger adults. Conclusions In our cohort, older adults who presented to the ED after MVC experienced similar pain severity as younger patients and less distress but were more likely to estimate their times for physical and emotional recovery to be 30 days or more. Increased emergency provider awareness of acute pain and distress symptoms among older patients experiencing MVC may improve outcomes for these patients