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Ethnicity: Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) differences among black, white, and Hispanic veterans who differ in degrees of exposure to combat in Vietnam
Author(s) -
Penk Walter E.,
Robinowitz Ralph,
Black John,
Dolan Michael,
Bell William,
Dorsett Dovalee,
Ames Michael,
Noriega Lori
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(198909)45:5<729::aid-jclp2270450507>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - psychology , ethnic group , clinical psychology , white (mutation) , posttraumatic stress , psychiatry , sociology , anthropology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Clinical observations and empirical evidence suggest that, among Vietnam combat veterans, Blacks are more maladjusted than Whites (e.g., Parsons, 1985; Penk et al., 1985). The prediction that minority group status is associated with poorer post‐war adjustment and higher rates of PTSD was examined among Vietnam combat veterans who were seeking treatment for addiction disorders. Adjustment scores among groups comparable in combat exposure were found to be similar for both Whites and Hispanics; Blacks, however, score significantly higher on both PTSD symptoms and on MMPI scales. These findings indicate that ethnicity contributes importantly to PTSD in selected instances, but that minority group status alone does not account for observed differences. Additional research is indicated in which careful attention is given to the complicating and interacting role of addiction disorders in sampling.