A two year follow-up of somatic complaints among Israeli combat stress reaction casualties

The relationships of somatic complaints and health related habits to combat stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorder were assessed one and two years after the 1982 Lebanon War. The sample consisted of 285 combat stress reaction Israeli casualties and 198 comparable controls. Results showed that higher rates of somatic complaints were reported by both combat stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorder casualties at the two points in time. Theoretical and methodological implications were discussed.

Effects of social support and battle intensity on loneliness and breakdown during combat

A sample of 382 Israeli soldiers who developed combat stress reactions (CSR) during the 1982 Israel-Lebanon War were compared with groups of carefully matched controls who did not develop CSR. Lack of social support from officers was found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and greater likelihood of CSR in soldiers. Lack of social support from buddies was found to be related to greater loneliness. Intensity of battle was also found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and increased likelihood of CSR. A path model was tested and supported. The model suggests that battle intensity and officer support lead to CSR directly and indirectly by causing increased feelings of loneliness. Possible cognitive and psychodynamic explanations for the findings are offered. The limitations of making causal statements from retrospective perceptions is discussed.

The role of proximity, immediacy, and expectancy in frontline treatment of combat stress reaction among Israelis in the Lebanon War

The authors examined the effectiveness of the prevailing treatment doctrine stressing the principles of proximity, immediacy, and expectancy for combat stress reaction among Israeli soldiers in the Lebanon War. Two treatment outcomes were measured: return to military unit and presence of posttraumatic stress disorder. All three treatment principles were associated with a higher rate of return to the military unit. The beneficial effect of frontline treatment was also evidenced by lower rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. The authors suggest that these principles can also be effective in treating other forms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Effects of social support and battle intensity on loneliness and breakdown during combat

A sample of 382 Israeli soldiers who developed combat stress reactions (CSR) during the 1982 Israel-Lebanon War were compared with groups of carefully matched controls who did not develop CSR. Lack of social support from officers was found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and greater likelihood of CSR in soldiers. Lack of social support from buddies was found to be related to greater loneliness. Intensity of battle was also found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and increased likelihood of CSR. A path model was tested and supported. The model suggests that battle intensity and officer support lead to CSR directly and indirectly by causing increased feelings of loneliness. Possible cognitive and psychodynamic explanations for the findings are offered. The limitations of making causal statements from retrospective perceptions is discussed.

SELF ACCEPTANCE AND THE SELECTION OF A MARITAL PARTNER - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SVR MODEL OF MURSTEIN

Mate selection is often explained by either the homogeneity or the complementary need model. The Stimulus-Value-Response (SVR) model that offers a framework for integration of the two models was assessed in the present study. The sample included forty-eight engaged Israeli couples. Results support the SVR model and confirm earlier research in this area. Conceptual and methodological issues are discussed.

Mental health care in the Lebanon War, 1982

Lessons in mental health care learned from the October 1973 War were applied in the Lebanon War 1982. A three-echelon system of management was followed according to the practices prevalent in Western armies. The clinical pictures were essentially similar to those observed in other wars. Combat stress reactions (CSR) comprised 15 to 20% of the total casualties during the active phase of the war; the rate of late reactions was 30 to 40% of the total CSR. Treatment on the battlefield was more effective than treatment following airlift to the rear, in returning soldiers to their units. The role of stress in causing CSR, and the importance of leadership and cohesion in its prevention were evident. The important lessons learned from the Lebanon War are discussed and include: 1) the need for a broad definition of CSR; 2) the importance of forward unit intervention; 3) the necessity of mobility and divisibility of mental health treatment units; 4) fighting units should not be dispersed immediately after combat; and 5) the management of stress reactions to be the responsibility not only of the mental health services, but of all sections of the medical corps, both in treatment and prevention.

The role of social factors in affective disorder: an assessment of the vulnerability model of Brown and this colleagues

The present study attempted to confirm the vulnerability model proposed by Brown and his colleagues, using data from a survey of 435 mothers from two semi-rural regions of Pennsylvania. The results were not consistent with the earlier findings. Methodological and conceptual issues were discussed to explain the differences in results.