Evidence synthesis
A rapid review of the association between chronic pain and suicidal behaviour and suicidality in military and veteran populations
This comprehensive rapid review examined three research questions:
- Amongst Australian and overseas current serving and ex-serving military populations what is known about the prevalence of, and risk factors for, chronic pain?:
- Amongst Australian and overseas current serving and ex-serving military populations, what is the evidence for an association between chronic pain and suicidal ideation /suicide?
- Amongst Australian and overseas non-military (general) populations, what is the evidence for an association between chronic pain and suicidal ideation /suicide?
The review was undertaken in collaboration with Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) Evidence Review Service and Pain Australia to inform a submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Literature review of effects of jet fuel and solvent exposure on human female reproductive outcomes
The aim of this project was to conduct a literature review of adverse reproductive health outcomes on service women from their occupational exposure to Military Aviation Turbine Fuels (MATFs) (jet fuels) and solvents used in the Australian military, with a main focus on evidence from human studies.
Literature review of effects of jet fuel and solvent exposure on human male reproductive outcomes
The aim of this project was to conduct a review of literature on human studies in English during the search periods: January 2000 - April 2018 for jet fuels and January 2000 – June 2018 for specified solvents. The key outcomes assessed were the associations between exposure to jet fuels and/or ten specified solvents and the risks of adverse reproductive health in men.
Solvents reports: https://www.dva.gov.au/documents-and-publications/solvents-reports
Military Aviation Turbine Fuel Reports: https://www.dva.gov.au/documents-and-publications/military-aviation-turbine-fuel-reports
Literature review of the role of epigenetic mechanisms on the association between jet fuel and/or solvent exposure and human male reproductive outcomes
The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment was to conduct a literature review of effects of occupational exposure to jet fuel and/or specified solvents on epigenetic mechanisms that affect human male reproductive outcomes.
Reports: https://www.dva.gov.au/documents-and-publications/epigenetics-report-fuel-and-solvent
United States and Australian Joint Research Effort – Comparative Literature Review
The aim of this project was to gain a clear understanding of the differences and similarities between the military deployment contexts, post-deployment health outcomes and veterans’ health care systems in Australia and the United States (US).
There were two sequential stages to the project:
- a deployment analysis and scoping review of health and social outcomes, which informed the methodology and outcomes for the:
- literature review of selected health and social outcomes and analysis of health care systems.
United States and Australia Joint Research Effort: Project 1: Comparative Literature Review (PDF)
Fact sheet – United States and Australia Joint Research Effort: Comparative Literature Review (PDF)
Systematic Review and meta-analysis of psychological disorders, multisymptom disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome in Gulf War, Iraq War and Afghanistan veterans
This study reviewed the existing Australian and international research to compare rates of psychological disorders (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorders, substance use disorders, generalised anxiety disorder, multisymptom illness and chronic fatigue syndrome in Gulf War and Afghanistan/Iraq War veterans with military comparison groups not deployed to those conflicts.
Blore JD, Sim MR, Forbes AB, Creamer MC, Kelsall HL. Depression in Gulf War veterans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine. 2015 Jun;45(8):1565-80. doi: 10.1017/S0033291714001913.
Kelsall HL, Wijesinghe MS, Creamer MC, McKenzie DP, Forbes AB, Page MJ, Sim MR. Alcohol use and substance use disorders in Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq War veterans compared with nondeployed military personnel. Epidemiologic Reviews. 2015;37:38-54. doi: 10.1093/epirev/mxu014.