Psychiatric medevacs during a 6-month aircraft carrier battle group deployment to the Persian Gulf: A Navy force health protection preliminary report

Military Medicine, Jan 2003 by Wood, Dennis Patrick

Clinical Psychologist at Sea Program

During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the USS John F. Kennedy deployed with LCDR James B. Parker, a Navy Reserve Clinical Psychologist. This clinical psychologist's responsibility was to evaluate and treat sailors diagnosed with acute and/or chronic psychiatric illness.19 During this Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm deployment, a full spectrum of psychiatric outpatient and inpatient services were provided. Additionally, due to the presence and skill of LCDR Parker, no sailors with psychiatric emergencies were medevaced from the USS Kennedy; all of these sailors were treated in the ship's sickbay or Intensive Care Unit. Previously, Parker2 had recommended that the Navy train psychologists to be aviation clinical psychologists who could function "as a consultant to the flight surgeon in referrals for mental health problems and.... as a consultant to commanders for preventive psychosocial programs (e.g., stress reduction and management programs) ..... onboard Naval Air Stations and onboard air craft carriers.

In February 1996, four Navy clinical psychology interns and a staff clinical psychologist deployed aboard USS Constellation for a 2-week sea services orientation.21 During this orientation cruise, these clinicians provided psychological evaluations and treatment, special program evaluations (i.e., security clearances, officer candidate programs, specialized training schools, nuclear weapons handler, etc.), psychological treatment, preventative medicine educational workshops, organizational/ management consultations, and port briefings.

Gaskin et al.21 estimated that the USS Constellation retained a 90% timesaving in patient man-hours due to sailors having received their consultations aboard the ship vs. these sailors having their consultations in shore-based clinics. The clinical psychologist and four clinical psychology interns were also able to relieve the senior medical officer from the responsibilities for psychological triage, screenings, follow-up evaluations, and counseling. Lastly, Gaskin et al.21 concluded, "the time is right for further long-term study of the cost effectiveness of deploying psychologists aboard carriers and a battle group."

Between September 30, 1996 and April 11, 1997, a clinical psychologist reported, in a temporary active duty status, to the USS Kitty Hawk 11 days prior to this ship's Western Pacific Deployment22,23 (WESTPAC). During this deployment, the clinical psychologist conducted 242 initial evaluations of sailors, and she effected 436 follow-up consultations. Two hundred sixty-four sailors were also seen for group training programs (tobacco cessation, suicide prevention, stress management). Fourteen sailors with alcohol abuse or dependency difficulties were evaluated and referred for additional care. Forty-eight USS Kitty Hawk battle group sailors with psychosis and/or suicidal ideation/intent were admitted to USS Kitty Hawk's medical ward for observation, proper diagnosis, and treatment. Eight of these sailors, due to the severity of their psychiatric illnesses, were medevaced to Naval Hospital San Diego for further evaluation and treatment.