Significant impairments occur in health-related quality of
life of military members who are in peacekeeping forces according to research
by Dr. J. Donald Richardson of The University of Western Ontario and his
co-investigators.
While the relationship between PTSD and physical and mental
health impairment is well developed in combat veterans, it is less studied
among the deployed peacekeeping veteran population.
Peacekeepers are exposed to
traumatic events which they are helpless to prevent under the United National
rules of engagement, which state soldiers must show restraint and neutrality.
The feeling of being unable to control a situation at the time of trauma is an
important risk factor for developing PTSD.