Utilization of Occupational Therapy in Combat Stress Control during the Persian Gulf War

Abstract

This article chronicles the deployment and subsequent utilization of occupational therapy personnel in support of combat stress control operations during the Persian Gulf War. It presents a discussion of occupational therapy's military history, evolving doctrine, and selected training experiences which led to the attachment of occupational therapy personnel to the 528th Medical Detachment (Psychiatric OM Team). A description of roles, functions, methods of operation, and lessons learned help to clarify the direction of occupational therapy in its future wartime mission.