|
|
Article: More stress disorder for wounded Viet vets.
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- January 2, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1988 Science Service, Inc. 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)
|
More stress disorder for wounded Viet vets
Severe trauma can trigger a number of reactions, such as recurring nightmares, sudden flashbacks and emotional numbing. In 1980, such reactions were combined into an official psychiatric diagnosis, post-traumatic stress disorder. A rare survey of the disorder in the general population now indicates that it is uncommon, except among wounded Vietnam veterans.
Current or previous symptoms meeting the criteria for post-traumatic stress disroder were reported by just 1 percent of the random sample of 2,493 St. Louis residents, say psychiatrist John E. Helzer of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis ...