Psychological effects of low intensity conflict (LIC) operations

Abstract

Background:A burgeoning clinical and empirical literature has provided incontrovertible evidence that combat operations exact a heavy toll in terms of human suffering not only on combatants but also military support personnel. Though the Indian army is engaged in low intensity conflict (LIC) operations for over five decades, the psychological effects of LIC deployment on soldiers have not been adequately studied.Aims:To evaluate the psychological effects of deployment in LIC operations on service personnel.Methods:Five hundred and sixty-eight servicemen engaged in LIC operations and equal number of age- and rank-matched personnel in adjoining peace areas were evaluated with a self-made questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Carroll Rating Scale for Depression (CRSD), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Impact of Events Scale (IES), Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), Hindi PEN inventory, Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and Locus Of Control (LOC) scale.Results:Respondents from LIC area had significantly higher scores on CRSD, MAST, GHQ, IES, and general fatigue, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue subscale of the MFI in comparison to those located in other areas. Significantly higher number of respondents from highly active LIC and with more than one-year service in LIC scored above cut-off levels on CRSD, MAST and GHQ.Conclusions:The psychological status of troops was directly related both to the duration of stay and the nature of LIC area.

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature

“…The one exception in the studies reviewed here is that Chaudhury et al 27 suggest this threshold is closer to 12 months rather than 6 months. However, given the cultural differences between the populations studied by Chaudhury et al 27 (the Indian military) and those studied by the other studies in this review (UK and US militaries), this finding may not be generalisable to ‘Western’ forces. Those serving in the Indian military as opposed to in the UK or US militaries are sent on deployment within or around their own country; they generally have a high level of support from the local population and, perhaps importantly, are able to keep in contact with their family more easily 27…”

“…The results of the studies reviewed here appear to place this threshold at approximately 6 months, or deploying for more than 12 months within the last 3 years 9 14 22 24. The one exception in the studies reviewed here is that Chaudhury et al 27 suggest this threshold is closer to 12 months rather than 6 months. However, given the cultural differences between the populations studied by Chaudhury et al 27 (the Indian military) and those studied by the other studies in this review (UK and US militaries), this finding may not be generalisable to ‘Western’ forces.…”

“…For example, some studies included personnel from a single service (eg, Army),21–27 whereas others included personnel from all service branches (eg, Navy, Army, Marines and Air Force) 14 20. Several studies included both regular and reserve forces,14 20 22 25 while others included only regular personnel 23 24 26 27. This may be particularly problematic, as previously it has been suggested that there are substantial differences in the health of deployed reservists in comparison with deployed regulars 1.…”

“…Furthermore, it is not only those in the Armed Forces that deploy to operational theatres. An estimated 126 000 security contractor staff have been deployed in Iraq since the beginning of combat operations in 2003, with a large number of national defence staff (civil-servants), journalists and other news media staff also working in operational theatres 4 7 8 27. The majority of non-military personnel working in theatre appear to be security contractors who themselves are most often former members of the Armed Forces 6.…”

Mental Health at Work Place

“…Soldiers have occasionally involved in acts of fragging too, when they seriously injure or kill themselves before killing or injuring one or many of their colleagues or seniors [9]. Various studies have frequently reported high rate of post traumatic stress and mental turmoil in soldiers especially when posted in highly hostile or inhospitable terrains [10,11]. Probably no other occupation carries as much risk as that of defence services, for unexpected exposure to trauma, which may come due to being evidence of killing hostile opponent, or the death of colleague in such acts.…”