270,000 Viet Nam Vets still suffer from PTSD

[planosteve]

The study, published online Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, also found that at least one-third of those veterans exhibiting symptoms of PTSD suffer from major depression, as well.

Researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center followed up with Vietnam War veterans who had participated in a study from 1984 to 1988. Of the 1,839 men and women still alive from the original study, over 1,400 participated in at least one phase of the new study, which involved a health questionnaire, health interview and clinical interview.

The study authors used three different scales to measure PTSD. Depending on the method, the results suggest that between 4.5 percent and 11.2 percent of the male Vietnam veterans and 6.1 and 8.7 percent of the female vets are experiencing serious PTSD symptoms today.

About 16 percent of veterans in the study reported an increase of more than 20 points on a PTSD symptom scale, while only 7.6 percent reported a decrease of greater than 20 points.

"The primary message is that the majority of men and women who served in Vietnam are resilient across 40 years," lead study author Dr. Charles Marmar told CBS News. "However, equally important, the minority of individuals who were symptomatic 15 years ago or more are likely to have increases rather than decreases in the severity of the symptoms. A case of PTSD that is chronic -- lasting more than five years after war -- is likely to persist because most spontaneous recovery occurs in the first two to three years."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vietnam-veterans-still-suffer-from-ptsd-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/

[millergrovesue]

My BIL does. But he's working very hard to lessen the symptoms.

[planosteve]

I have a 1st cousin that I think does. Plus he still has physical problems with his back and arm from getting blown out of a jeep by a land mine. The other guy was killed. He also has ulcerative colitis (cronic diareaha) caused by stress. His marriage broke up a long time ago and the next 2 didn't work out.

[BigTex]

I think it's funny that we can talk about what a bad guy John McCain is and then wring our hands over Vietnam vets with PTSD.

[GFB]

Is that his problem?

[millergrovesue]

I think it's funny that we can talk about what a bad guy John McCain is and then wring our hands over Vietnam vets with PTSD.

I don't think McCain is a bad guy. I do think Trump is a bad guy. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if McCain has PTSD. Wonder if PTSD would make Trump more human. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[planosteve]

I think it's funny that we can talk about what a bad guy John McCain is and then wring our hands over Vietnam vets with PTSD.

I don't think McCain is a bad guy. I do think Trump is a bad guy. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if McCain has PTSD. Wonder if PTSD would make Trump more human. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I don't know why bad guys couldn't have PTSD. If fact I'd guess they are more likely to.

[ralph]

look at that , a thread , nuthin to do with the good Mr.Trump yet I see him mentioned even here in this thread . By the way , I hear that the Donald is still doing good .

[millergrovesue]

I brought up Trump because McCain was brought up. Guess you can call this yet another Trump thread.

[GFB]

I think it's funny that we can talk about what a bad guy John McCain is and then wring our hands over Vietnam vets with PTSD.

I don't think the PTSD hand wringers are the same people as the McCain haters.

[ralph]

and since MR. Trump has been mentioned the latest update on him is that he is still doing good , still educating Americans as he keeps his popularity at high levels .

[GFB]

and since MR. Trump has been mentioned the latest update on him is that he is still doing good , still educating Americans as he keeps his popularity at high levels .

How's McCain doing'?

[ralph]

think that he's got a headache and is sending his rather meaty daughter out to protect and fight this battle for him .

[planosteve]

I believe about this time before the last election, the Republican leader in the polls was Herman Cain.

[ann jusko]

No compassion at all for Vietnam veterans, GFB? Remember there was a DRAFT! My Marine brother has only spoken about Vietnam since he had the strokes. And he only spoke because I took some pictures, asking him which ones he wanted to have with him. He didn't want the ones from Vietnam. But when my sister and I left to go back and clean out his house, he did speak about it to my son. My son said he will never, ever forget my brother telling him the story of his closest friend there. They were side by side when my brother turned to him and his head was gone. I guess your thought would be: Why didn't he duck? You have NO idea! My brother has NEVER taken advantage of any of his rightful benefits. No VA health care, no VA home loans, nothing!
My son asked him if he could have the pictures. He said "Yes". My son said they will forever remind him of what his uncle went through. Of course all the WW2 veterans in our family were gone before my son was old enough to really understand.

[millergrovesue]

One of the recent books I read about WWII, think it was The Nightingale or maybe the book before that, talked about how no one, not a single soldier returned the same person. And that very few shared their experiences.

I'll never forget a boyfriend telling me a little about his Vietnam experience. He said the most frightening thing to him was that he became a person who loved killing.

[GFB]

No compassion at all for Vietnam veterans, GFB? Remember there was a DRAFT! My Marine brother has only spoken about Vietnam since he had the strokes. And he only spoke because I took some pictures, asking him which ones he wanted to have with him. He didn't want the ones from Vietnam. But when my sister and I left to go back and clean out his house, he did speak about it to my son. My son said he will never, ever forget my brother telling him the story of his closest friend there. They were side by side when my brother turned to him and his head was gone. I guess your thought would be: Why didn't he duck? You have NO idea! My brother has NEVER taken advantage of any of his rightful benefits. No VA health care, no VA home loans, nothing!
My son asked him if he could have the pictures. He said "Yes". My son said they will forever remind him of what his uncle went through. Of course all the WW2 veterans in our family were gone before my son was old enough to really understand.

Are you addressing the right person?

Not sure why you asked about me not having compassion for Veterans..I certainly have plenty of that.

If you mean the way I feel about McCain, that's all about him and how he has behaved over the many years sabotaging his own Party.

I do believe that if a person is a long term louse, he can erase all the good will and respect he may have built up.

Being a Vet does not buy you a lifetime exemption.