The diagnosis and medical management of chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military veterans (I)
This is the first part of a two part series on the diagnosis and medical management of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans. This article looks at the diagnosis and prognosis of chronic PTSD. The second part will look at the medical management of chronic PTSD. Many treating professionals face the treatment of… Read more »
Recent Advances in the Treatment of Nerve Agent Poisoning
Abstract The standard treatment of nerve agent poisoning is pretreatment with the carbamate pyridostigmine, and post-exposure therapy with atropine, an oxime (PAM, toxogonin or HI-6) and diazepam. Some of the literature published in 1998 bearing on this treatment procedure, and improvements to it, is reviewed in this document. A detailed study of the pharmacokinetics of… Read more »
The Price Of Prevention: Drugs, Vaccines and Medications Used to Prevent Disease in the Australian Defence Force
Abstract The Australian Defence Force comprises the healthiest and fittest groups of individuals in Australian society. Pre-selection at recruitment is a major factor that pre-determines this status; but on this basis are built major preventive health and safety policies and programs that promote positive health – both during peacetime and during operational deployments overseas. Health… Read more »
Article Review
By Col Darrell Duncan, MBBS, Grad Dip HI HODGETTS, TJ GREASLEY, IA; 2003 Impact of Deployment of Personnel with Chronic Conditions to Forward Areas. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps; Vol 149, pp 277-283 Aim: To identify reasons for inappropriate deployment of soldiers with chronic conditions to an operational environment. Setting: Two British Army… Read more »
An Overview to Military Medical Ethics
Abstract This paper provides an overview of military medical ethics (MME). It intends to inform military medical professionals on the breadth of the subject, including important subordinate topics, in preparation for further study. The paper opens by introducing core concepts at the intersection of medical and military ethics. It then examines the ethical issues that… Read more »
Agent Orange Reviewed: Potential Role in Peripheral Neuropathy and Neurodegeneration
Abstract Agent Orange, a dioxin-containing toxin, was used as a herbicide during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange exposure was initially linked to congenital disabilities among Vietnamese civilians residing near aerially sprayed regions. Years later, returning South Korean and United States (US) Veterans exposed to Agent Orange exhibited increased rates of malignancy, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and… Read more »
Prevention and management of urinary incontinence, anal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in military women and female elite athletes
Abstract Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), encompassing urinary incontinence (UI), anal incontinence (AI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and various other conditions associated with pelvic floor muscles, is prevalent in military women and female elite athletes. Thus, it is important to consider specific prevention and management strategies that these women are currently using, and their safety… Read more »
Military Aspects of Cholera in POW / Refugee Camps
Abstract Although historically greatly feared due to its ability to kill quickly from dehydration, cholera has not featured in recent ADF military operations except in 2010 when United Nations Peacekeepers from Nepal were linked to the introduction of cholera into post- earthquake Haiti. The collapse of field sanitation during the building of the Thai–Burma railway… Read more »
The Australian Defence Force Medical Specialist Program: Past, Present and Future
Abstract The Australian Defence Force (ADF) aspires to provide high-quality medical care to personnel deployed on operations. Medical procedural specialists are key enablers of this capability. In the late 20th Century, the ADF relied upon Reserve clinicians to staff deployed health facilities. Though generally successful, this approach is limited in the extent to which it… Read more »
Moral Injury Reconciliation: A Practitioner’s Guide for Treating Moral Injury, PTSD, Grief, and Military Sexual Trauma, by Dr Lewis Jeffery Lee
Review by Chaplain Darren Cronshaw *Dr Lewis Jeffery Lee, Moral Injury Reconciliation: A Practitioner’s Guide for Treating Moral Injury, PTSD, Grief, and Military Sexual Trauma through Spiritual Formation Strategies. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2018. ISBN. 9781785927577. Paperback. 223pp, AUD$47.73 Wars are a health hazard for those who fight in them—at physical but also psychological and unseen… Read more »
Pre-hospital Antibiotics in the Australian Defence Force
C White, MC Reade Abstract Many militaries around the world use oral and/or parenteral antibiotics in the pre-hospital environment. This narrative literature review investigated the potential use of pre-hospital antibiotics in the ADF by searching several electronic databases for primary evidence from comparative studies of both prospective and retrospective design. There are concerns that the… Read more »
Pelvic Floor Health in Female Military Personnel: A Narrative Review
S O’Shea, R Pope, R Orr, K Freire Abstract Background: A growing female workforce within military forces internationally necessitates comprehensive consideration of this population’s unique health requirements within a wide range of military contexts. Pelvic floor health is a key area where support needs vary between sexes because of differences in pelvic anatomy and… Read more »
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Killing in Combat: A Review of Existing Literature
Abstract Background: Killing during combat is a unique experience and, for the majority, is limited to military service. For those working with military and veteran populations, it is essential to be able to understand this experience and any psychological ramifications. Purpose: This review provides a synthesis of existing literature, addressing the specific question: what is… Read more »
Australian Defence Force’ Role in Regional Health Security: Missions Defined by Infectious Diseases
G D Shanks ‘God alone would not have sent such an epidemic.’ Samoan Chief during New Zealand Samoan Epidemic Commission hearings 1919.1 History shows that infectious diseases often determined the ability of armed forces to maintain soldiers on campaign and sailors in ships. Prior to the industrialisation of warfare in World War I, disease casualties… Read more »
Skill fade in Military Medical Training: a literature Review of Supraglottic Airway use in the prehospital environment
W Maddocks Background: Skill fade is a potential issue in any military medical training environment. Within the current New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) medic training programme, emergency skills are taught and practised in a simulated environment but are rarely used in real-life situations. As there is infrequent exposure to emergency situations during training, there is… Read more »
Adjunct Activities for Mental Health Improvements for Veterans
T Watt, E Kehoe Abstract The disruptive and at times traumatic nature of military service can create mental health issues among veterans. Wounded, injured or ill personnel, even if their physical and psychological rehabilitation goes well, can experience an acute loss of purpose and structure that is provided during their military service, especially post-discharge. It… Read more »
Infection Prevention and Control Practices in the Deployed Military Field Hospital: AN integrative review
J Skipp, P Zimmerman, T Van de Mortel Abstract Background: Advances in personal protective equipment, tactical combat casualty care training and improved technologies have led to the increased survival of those injured during combat. However, infection remains a significant complication in combat-related injuries, from initial wound contamination to infections acquired in various treatment facilities. Purpose:… Read more »
Does Current Policy Support Reproductive Health of Australian Defence Force Veterans? A Review of Australian Defence Force Policy
Introduction Reproductive health is of central importance to the structure of people’s lives and is fundamental to human identity. Increasingly, the importance of reproductive health is recognised at individual, societal and global levels. The issues encompassed are different for males and females and change dramatically over a person’s lifetime1. Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6… Read more »
An Overview of the Key Elements Required for Haemostasis Following Military Trauma from the Point of Injury to Definitive care
Abstract Haemorrhage control for traumatised soldiers takes place at many levels, from the point of injury through resuscitation and reception into surgical facilities, and postoperatively to intensive care units where normalisation of physiology and ultimate recovery following definitive surgery may be achieved. Differences in priorities and availability of interventions at each level of care provide… Read more »
Systematic Review of The Impact of Deployment on Respiratory Function of Contemporary International and Australian Veterans’
H Ighani, E Lawrence-Wood, SJ Neuhaus, A McFarlane Abstract Current international literature suggests a higher prevalence of respiratory conditions in military personnel during and following deployment to the Middle East for reasons that are not well understood. Therefore, a systematic review of research into the impacts of deployment on respiratory function among international and Australian… Read more »
2025 AMMA Conference
