Adjustment Disorder in the Armed Forces: a Systematic Review
Abstract: In the UK military, adjustment disorder (AjD) is reported as one of the most diagnosed mental disorders, alongside depression, in personnel presenting to mental health services. Despite this, little is understood about what may predict AjD, common treatment or outcomes for this population. The systematic review aimed to summarise existing research for AjD in Armed Forces (AF) populations, including prevalence and risk factors, and to outline clinical and occupational outcomes. A literature search was conducted in December 2020 to identify research that investigated AjD within an AF population (serving or veteran) following the PRISMA guidelines. Eighty-three studies were included in the review. The AjD prevalence estimates in AF populations with a mental disorder was considerably higher for serving AF personnel (34.9%) compared to veterans (12.8%). Childhood adversities were identified as a risk factor for AjD. AjD was found to increase the risk of suicidal ideation, with one study reporting a risk ratio of 4.70 (95% Confidence Interval: 3.50–6.20). Talking therapies were the most common treatment for AjD, however none reported on treatment effectiveness. This review found that AjD was commonly reported across international AF. Despite heterogeneity in the results, the review identifies several literature gaps.
Abstract: Disordered eating is a prevalent and relevant health concern that remains understudied among U.S. military veterans. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a newly recognized feeding and eating disorder characterized by overly restrictive eating due to (a) picky eating, (b) lack of appetite, and (c) fear of aversive consequences related to eating. The Nine-Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) is a recently developed ARFID screening tool with initial validation studies demonstrating psychometric support. However, the psychometric properties of the NIAS have not been investigated in a veteran sample. To advance our understanding of ARFID screening tools that may be appropriate for use in veterans, the present study examined the factor structure of the NIAS using survey data from a large national sample of recently separated veterans (N = 1,486). Measurement invariance across key subgroups was tested in addition to exploring differential associations between the NIAS and related constructs. Results suggested that a three-factor model provided an excellent fit of the data and demonstrated scalar invariance across self-identified men and women, race and ethnicity, and sexual and gender minority (SGM) identity. Some subgroups had higher latent means on the picky eating (women, SGM, non-Hispanic Black), appetite (women, SGM), and fear (women) factors. The NIAS had some overlap with another measure of disordered eating and was moderately correlated with psychosocial impairment and mental health. Overall, the NIAS may be a useful screening tool for ARFID in veterans, given support for the three proposed subscales and equivalence across diverse identities.