The extraordinary trauma experienced by Resistance veterans from World War II (WWII) and other veterans may be associated with an increased incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic morbidity, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study explored some relationships between current PTSD and CVD risk factors in 147 male Dutch WW II Resistance veterans. They were compared to 65 same-aged male patients with a recent myocardial infarction and 79 surgical patients. Of these subjects, WW II Resistance veterans scored highest on CVD risk factors (i.e., angina pectoris, type A behavior, life stressors, and vital exhaustion), except smoking. Fifty-six percent of these veterans were currently suffering from PTSD. They reported CVD risk factors, in particular type A behavior and vital exhaustion, more often than veterans without PTSD; they also reported more premorbid adverse living conditions. These data suggest that early sensitization to environmental stressors may be associated with a high prevalence of current PTSD and excess CVD risk factors in subjects exposed to extraordinary war-time trauma and that this may lead to vital exhaustion.

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A group of 24 Dutch World War II Resistance veterans with a documented traumatic war history and a (partially) positive diagnosis of current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was studied. This special group of war victims is characterised by chronicity, suffering from intractable posttraumatic complaints for decades. They were treated with fluvoxamine (Fevarin), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with antidepressive and anxiolytic properties. The study was designed as an open-ended, outpatient pilot study, with a treatment period of 12 weeks. Results of clinical examination, and questionnaires investigating PTSD, depression, sleeping problems, anxiety, and vital exhaustion indicate that a significant number of the subjects improved with respect to their PTSD symptomatology, and their symptoms of anxiety and vital exhaustion. However, at the end of the study, quantitative improvement was modest. The results indicate that treatment with fluvoxamine may offer alleviation of chronic PTSD symptoms, in particular insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, intrusive recollections, guilt feelings and tiredness.

The water‐soluble proteins of the cerebral gray matter and some enzyme systems (cholinesterase, acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase) were studied in 9 autopsy cases of Alzheimer's presenile or senile dementia, 1 case of Pick's disease and 1 case of cerebral arteriosclerosis. The proteins and enzyme patterns were visualized on polyacrylamide gradient gels after electrophoresis. In all patients studied, the profiles of cerebral gray‐matter proteins were normal. In the patients with advanced dementia, the enzyme patterns usually were abnormal. Particularly in Alzheimer's disease, the activity of malate dehydrogenase was markedly increased.

This study concerns the prevalence of current and lifetime Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in various groups of officially recognized Veterans of the Dutch civilian Resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War II. In total, 1046 Resistance veterans living in The Netherlands and 52 who immigrated to the United States after the war were examined. Between four and five decades after the end of WW II, between 25 and 50% were suffering from current PTSD. The life-time prevalence is estimated to be substantially higher. The course of PTSD proved highly variable. There had often been a delay of several decades between the end of the war and reoccurrence or first onset of posttraumatic symptoms. The prevalence of PTSD in Resistance veterans who emigrated to the United States was hardly different from that of the veterans still living in The Netherlands.