A Comparative Study of Psychiatric Disorders among Postcombat and Noncombat Army Personnel in Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background: Globally, 10%–13% of soldiers develop mental health disorders following deployment, yet few African studies have directly compared postcombat and noncombat personnel. Military deployments involve hazardous and psychologically demanding experiences that heighten vulnerability to depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder. In Nigeria, soldiers are frequently engaged in counterinsurgency and internal security operations, but comparative evidence on psychiatric morbidity between postcombat and noncombat personnel remains scarce. This study, therefore, investigated the prevalence, pattern, and predictors of psychiatric disorders among soldiers in Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study involving 297 soldiers (149 postcombat and 148 noncombat) was conducted. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus, applying ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Results: Postcombat personnel demonstrated significantly higher psychiatric morbidity (55.0%) than noncombat personnel (22.3%) (χ 2 = 20.70; P < 0.01). Substance dependence, phobic disorders, depressive episodes, and generalized anxiety were the most common disorders. Living alone, tertiary education, and postcombat exposure independently predicted psychiatric morbidity. Postcombat exposure remained the strongest predictor (adjusted odds ratio = 3.82; P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates significantly elevated psychiatric morbidity among postcombat personnel. Routine psychological screening, structured reintegration programs, resilience training, and enhanced mental health staffing are urgently required within the Nigerian Army.