A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to Assess and Improve the Effectiveness of Post-Deployment Screening for Mental Illness

Abstract : The primary aim of the study is to assess whether post deployment screening would reduce the levels of mental illness and the secondary aim is to assess the health-seeking behavior in relation to screening. The study is a cluster RCT design and recruited subjects at platoon level (20-35 individuals) as the unit of randomization. There are 2 arms: a screening group and a control group. Both arms have completed an offline self-administered computerized assessment at baseline which was carried out between October 2011 and February 2013. The baseline assessment included PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse in troops returning from Afghanistan. Only the screening group received specific advice on help seeking related to their scores on the mental health measures. 8,673 (85%) out of 10,200 service personnel completed the baseline assessment. Follow up data collection began in December 2012 and will continue until October 2014. The response rate so far has been 6288 (61.7%). Our trial has fulfilled our expectations to obtain a response rate above 60% and expect to finish with a response rate between 63% and 65%.