Reaction of Vietnam veterans to the Persian Gulf War

The notion that veterans' war experiences can be reawakened on exposure to subsequent wars has not received the attention it merits by mental health professionals. A current or recent war can significantly affect veterans; in particular, some Vietnam veterans have had intense reactions to the Persian Gulf War. This article reviews the evolution of the concept of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and analyzes reports of Vietnam veterans' reactions to the Persian Gulf War. A case study of a Vietnam veteran whose traumatic memories were reawakened with the onset of the Persian Gulf War is presented, and implications for social work practice are discussed.