Post-traumatic stress disorder and the elderly combat veteran

1 PTSD has been an under-diagnosed syndrome among World War II and Korean era veterans both because of clinical inattention and the way this generation of soldiers coped with traumatic memories throughout their lives. 2 There are psychological, developmental, and situational factors that may cause PTSD symptoms to resurface among older veterans in health care settings. 3 Nurses in health care settings who have frequent contact with the elderly are in a unique position to identify older veterans who might be at risk for resurfacing of PTSD symptoms and to provide limited assistance and referral for mental health treatment.