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Exposure to atrocities and severity of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans.
Am J Psychiatry. 1992 Mar; 149(3):333-6.AJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

The authors' objective was to explore aspects of trauma associated with severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans.

METHOD

Several ratings of stress exposure and symptom severity were administered to 40 patients with combat-related PTSD.

RESULTS

A significant relationship was observed between exposure to atrocities and the impact of PTSD on veterans' lives, as measured by the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Exposure to atrocities was also significantly correlated with current symptom severity. In contrast, combat exposure alone was not significantly associated with overall symptom severity. Both atrocity and combat exposure, however, were significantly related to reexperiencing symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that the enduring effect and severity of PTSD symptoms on an individual are associated more with exposure to brutal human death and suffering than the threat of death associated with combat.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Yehuda R
Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.
Southwick SM
No affiliation info available
Giller EL
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultChronic DiseaseCombat DisordersHumansLife Change EventsMaleMiddle AgedPersonality InventoryPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesSeverity of Illness IndexStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticVeteransVietnamViolence

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

1536270

Citation

Yehuda, R, et al. "Exposure to Atrocities and Severity of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam Combat Veterans." The American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 149, no. 3, 1992, pp. 333-6.
Yehuda R, Southwick SM, Giller EL. Exposure to atrocities and severity of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans. Am J Psychiatry. 1992;149(3):333-6.
Yehuda, R., Southwick, S. M., & Giller, E. L. (1992). Exposure to atrocities and severity of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 149(3), 333-6.
Yehuda R, Southwick SM, Giller EL. Exposure to Atrocities and Severity of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam Combat Veterans. Am J Psychiatry. 1992;149(3):333-6. PubMed PMID: 1536270.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Exposure to atrocities and severity of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans. AU - Yehuda,R, AU - Southwick,S M, AU - Giller,E L,Jr PY - 1992/3/11/pubmed PY - 2001/3/28/medline PY - 1992/3/11/entrez SP - 333 EP - 6 JF - The American journal of psychiatry JO - Am J Psychiatry VL - 149 IS - 3 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The authors' objective was to explore aspects of trauma associated with severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans. METHOD: Several ratings of stress exposure and symptom severity were administered to 40 patients with combat-related PTSD. RESULTS: A significant relationship was observed between exposure to atrocities and the impact of PTSD on veterans' lives, as measured by the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Exposure to atrocities was also significantly correlated with current symptom severity. In contrast, combat exposure alone was not significantly associated with overall symptom severity. Both atrocity and combat exposure, however, were significantly related to reexperiencing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the enduring effect and severity of PTSD symptoms on an individual are associated more with exposure to brutal human death and suffering than the threat of death associated with combat. SN - 0002-953X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/1536270/Exposure_to_atrocities_and_severity_of_chronic_posttraumatic_stress_disorder_in_Vietnam_combat_veterans_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -