Concurrent posttraumatic stress disorder in psychogeriatric patients

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Limited research on World War II veterans' combat trauma compared to Vietnam veterans.
• Existing studies on Vietnam veterans show high comorbidity of PTSD with other psychiatric diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of World War II veterans admitted for psychiatric care.
• To understand the long-term impact of combat-related stressors in older veterans.

Main Methods:

• A structured diagnostic interview was used to assess 42 inpatient World War II veterans with non-PTSD admission diagnoses.
• A second, blinded examiner assessed the impact of the most stressful life experience.
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition (DSM-III) criteria were applied.

Main Results:

• Combat was identified as the most significant stressor by 54% of combat-exposed veterans.
• 54% of combat-exposed veterans met DSM-III criteria for past PTSD.
• 27% of combat-exposed veterans met DSM-III criteria for current PTSD, often with another Axis I diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Combat trauma has lasting effects on World War II veterans, often presenting years later.
• There is a need for routine assessment of combat-related PTSD in psychogeriatric patients.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering combat history in the psychiatric evaluation of older veterans.