Combat stress casualties in Iraq. Part 1: Behavioral health consultation at an expeditionary medical group

PURPOSE. We review the role of military mental health professionals in consulting with inpatient medical patients and staff at a combat hospital and aeromedical evacuation staging facility in Iraq. CONCLUSIONS. Behavioral health consultation with medical and surgical patients during hospitalization and prior to aeromedical evacuation can help identify patients with combat stress exposure that may require future mental health follow-up. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Extensive use of civilian mental health practitioners including nurse psychotherapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will be needed to provide psychiatric care for the large number of U.S. veterans who return from deployment with combat stress related disorders.