Post-traumatic Stress Disorder often delayed for years in war veterans
Around 40% of combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not fully manifest the condition until many months or even years later according to a systematic review recently published by a team led by Bernice Andrews, Professor of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London in collaboration with Professor Chris Brewin at University College London.
The review published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has revealed that military trauma is more likely than civilian trauma to be followed by the delayed-onset subtype of PTSD.
The results of ten case studies and nineteen group studies consistently showed that delayed-onset PTSD rarely came out of the blue and that there were usually at least some prior symptoms. Delayed onsets accounted for an average of 38.2% of military cases of the disorder (in contrast to 15.3% of civilian cases).
′This review is groundbreaking for Vietnam veterans – it means that we should do something for newer veterans and not just let it lay there,′ said Steve Robinson, a Gulf War veteran and Director of Veteran Affairs for Veterans for America, in the International Herald Tribune.
The review shows that in some cases, World War II and Korean War veterans did not experience the full symptoms of PTSD until 30 years after the events. The findings indicate this may be because neurological conditions in old age affect the capacity to inhibit and cope with the traumatic experiences of war.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Andrews said ′This is first major review of delayed-onset PTSD and indicates the importance of investigating its causes to help prevent and treat the condition in war veterans and victims of civilian trauma′.
Professor Andrews and colleagues are currently researching delayed-onset PTSD in war pensioners for the UK Ministry of Defence.
The review published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has revealed that military trauma is more likely than civilian trauma to be followed by the delayed-onset subtype of PTSD.
The results of ten case studies and nineteen group studies consistently showed that delayed-onset PTSD rarely came out of the blue and that there were usually at least some prior symptoms. Delayed onsets accounted for an average of 38.2% of military cases of the disorder (in contrast to 15.3% of civilian cases).
′This review is groundbreaking for Vietnam veterans – it means that we should do something for newer veterans and not just let it lay there,′ said Steve Robinson, a Gulf War veteran and Director of Veteran Affairs for Veterans for America, in the International Herald Tribune.
The review shows that in some cases, World War II and Korean War veterans did not experience the full symptoms of PTSD until 30 years after the events. The findings indicate this may be because neurological conditions in old age affect the capacity to inhibit and cope with the traumatic experiences of war.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Andrews said ′This is first major review of delayed-onset PTSD and indicates the importance of investigating its causes to help prevent and treat the condition in war veterans and victims of civilian trauma′.
Professor Andrews and colleagues are currently researching delayed-onset PTSD in war pensioners for the UK Ministry of Defence.
