The reviewed study analyzes mental problems most commonly experienced by veterans in the United Kingdom. The primary method of data collection in the article was an online questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze responder and non-responder data and calculate response probability. Correlations and frequencies of meeting case criteria were calculated for various mental disorders. The methods used are adequate for the stated purposes of the study.
A questionnaire is a research tool used to collect data from a large group of people in a systematic and structured manner. It typically consists of a set of questions or statements that are designed to gather specific information from respondents. Questionnaires can be administered in various formats, including paper-based, electronic, or face-to-face interviews; in this study, a questionnaire was performed via e-mail. A multivariate logistic regression model is a statistical method used to analyze the relationship between several independent variables and a binary dependent variable. It is a type of regression analysis commonly used in research and data analysis to model the probability of an outcome occurring based on multiple predictor variables.
Table 1. Correlations and frequencies of meeting case criteria between disorders
Table 1 shows the results of a study of correlations and frequencies of meeting case criteria between PTSD, CMD, Anger, and Alcohol misuse. The number without the percent sign is the degree of positive correlation. Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two or more variables. In other words, it measures the degree to which two variables are related or associated. Numbers with a percent sign are the frequencies of meeting case criteria. Frequencies of meeting case criteria refer to the number of individuals in a population who meet specific criteria for a particular case or condition. In this case, the authors mean the number of people with both disorders. The data in the table were collected through questionnaires and are relatively reliable.
PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. CMD abbreviation in this table means common mental health difficulties. As can be seen from the table, most of the disorders studied to correlate with PTSD. Common mental health difficulties correlate with the manifestation of other conditions, which is explained by the common cause of these problems. Correlations of mental disorders with alcohol misuse were relatively low, probably because extraneous factors such as genetics may play a significant role in the case of alcohol misuse. The table lacks data on how correlations differ for different groups of respondents, for example, depending on their gender. There is also no data on the frequency of occurrence of more than two disorders in one respondent simultaneously.
Veterans may face various mental health difficulties, often due to the trauma and stress experienced during service. It is important for veterans experiencing mental health difficulties to seek help from trained professionals, such as therapists or counselors, as well as from support groups and loved ones. This study is significant for providing qualified medical care to former combatants. Its methodology corresponds to the assigned tasks, and the results and conclusions are credible.
Reference
Murphy, D., Ashwick, R., Palmer, E., & Busuttil, W. (2019). Describing the profile of a population of UK veterans seeking support for mental health difficulties. Journal of Mental Health, 28(6), 654–661. Web.