Medically unexplained symptoms in military personnel

The UK Armed Forces comprise some 190,000 personnel who have most of their healthcare provided ‘in-house’ by dedicated medical personnel and facilities. Historically, military personnel deployed on operational duties have been affected by a variety of constellations of medically unexplained symptoms associated with their service. The most recent of these is Gulf War syndrome, a phrase coined after the 1991 Gulf War. This article examines the many hypotheses that have been put forward about the origins of the concept and gives an overview of studies that have attempted to explain the lasting health effects associated with Gulf service. It also examines the attempts that have been made to treat the condition and considers the implications for current psychiatric practice.