Correlates of self-reported and objectively determined exposure to Agent Orange

The authors examined the relationship between 100 Viet Nam veterans' self-reported and objectively determined exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange and the relationship between self- or objective ratings and self-reported psychological and medical problems. Veterans who believed they had been exposed reported more psychological and medical problems than the other veterans but did not differ on "success at living" indices; the medical problems many reported suggested psychosomatic etiologies. Grouped according to objective ratings of herbicide exposure, the veterans did not show such differences in psychological or medical problems. No differences on neuropsychological testing appeared, no matter how the subjects were grouped.