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The prevalence of lifetime and partial post‐traumatic stress disorder in vietnam theater veterans
Author(s) -
Weiss Daniel S.,
Marmar Charles R.,
Schlenger William E.,
Fairbank John A.,
Kathleen Jordan B.,
Hough Richard L.,
Kulka Richard A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.2490050304
Subject(s) - posttraumatic stress , psychiatry , distress , vietnam war , service member , psychology , psychological distress , traumatic stress , medicine , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , military personnel , mental health , anxiety , political science , law
A complete understanding of the consequences of service in a war zone includes examining the lifetime and current prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and of partial PTSD. Cases of partial PTSD are persons who have clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, but who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS) estimated the lifetime prevalence of PTSD to be 30.9% among male theater veterans, 26.% among females; lifetime prevalence of partial PTSD was an additional 22.5% and 21.2%, respectively; current prevalence of partial PTSD was 11.1% in males and 7.8% in females. NVVRS findings indicate that of the 1.7 million veterans who ever experienced significant symptoms of PTSD after the Vietnam war, approximately 830,000 (49%) still experience clinically significant distress and disability from symptoms of PTSD. The contribution of partial PTSD represents an estimated additional 350,000 veterans.