• David Berle and Zachary Steel.
• Senior Research Fellow in Trauma and Mental Health, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia Randwick, NSW, and; St John of God Healthcare, Richmond Hospital, Australia d.berle@unsw.edu.au.
• Australas Psychiatry. 2015 Aug 1; 23 (4): 399-402.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to identify the key challenges experienced by the families of defence force personnel following deployment.MethodWe undertook a selective review of four post-deployment challenges to the families of defence force personnel: (1) changes to relationships; (2) changes to family member roles and responsibilities; (3) adjustment of children and parenting challenges; and (4) anger, family conflict and violence. Emerging issues in the area of post-deployment adjustment are also discussed.ResultsEmpirical studies of post-deployment family adjustment are lacking. Each of the reviewed challenges can contribute to psychological difficulties and precipitate contact with mental health services.ConclusionsThe challenges faced by defence force personnel when returning from deployment arise within a family context. Clinicians should thoroughly assess these factors in families following deployment, but also recognise family strengths and resilience to these challenges.© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.

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