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Article: PTSD predisposition seen in combat-exposed Vietnam vets.(care and treatment)(posttraumatic stress disorder )
- Article from:
- Clinical Psychiatry News
- Article date:
- May 1, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder probably had a predisposition--a subtle neurologic abnormality that elevated their risk upon exposure to combat, according to an identical twin study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Psychiatrists.
Veterans with combat exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to have an elevated heart rate when startled, a smaller anterior cingulate cortex, and possibly a smaller hippocampal volume, compared with their military twins not exposed to combat, Dr. Roger K. Pitman said. Because identical twins do not demonstrate these features, it is likely they are ...