Psychiatric morbidity in Pakistani peacekeepers and their perception about deployment in Liberia

ABSTRACT

To identify the Psychiatric morbidity among personnel deployed in Liberia and to explore their perception about the deployment. Descriptive study. The study was carried out at in the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia from December 2007 to December 2008. Sources of stress, positive and negative perception of the deployment were recorded on a semi structured proforma along with demographic characteristics of subjects. The General Health Questionnaire-28 was administered to identify case-ness. One hundred seventy two non- commissioned officers participated in this study. All of them were males. Their ages ranged from 23 to 51 years with the mean age of 30,2 years [SD =6.3]. The most common sources of stress for all personnel were the lack of recreations [46.5%, 57.1% respectively]. This was more so for singles. Almost half of married personnel rated separation from home and family to be the source of maximum stress. Approximately eighty three percent [50%+32.56%] had positive perception of the deployment on comparison to nearly sixty-four percent [50% + 13.59%] who had negative perception. Married personnel had more likely than singles to have negative perception of the deployment [70% vs. 54%].11% [n=19] of studied personnel scored high on GHQ who were later subjected to present state examination and diagnosed using ICD-10. About 25% [n=5] were diagnosed to be suffering from depressive episode mild with somatic features [F32.1] 50% [n=9] were diagnosed having Anxiety disorders. About 25% [n=5] had emotional and behavioural disorder associated with use of Medicine [Mefoloquine]. Lack of recreational facilities, separation from family and risk of getting infectious disease were common stressors. Financial advantage and professional grooming were positive perceptions. Depressive episode mild with somatic features and anxiety disorders were main psychiatric morbidities