Post-traumatic stress disorder in Australian prisoners of the Japanese: a clinical study

The clinical findings of examination of 11 Australian prisoners of the Japanese (POWs (J)) are reported. They were examined for evidence, past or present, of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Three currently satisfied the DSM-III-R criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and at least three more would probably have done so if a complete assessment had been possible. All but two described many of the symptoms of PTSD and would probably have satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis at some time following their release from captivity. The subjects were all seen between mid 1988 and mid 1990 and the difficulties of the study and its implications are discussed.