The aim of this study was to assess the oral health condition of Croatian war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study included 50 men who experienced combat stress and had been diagnosed with PTSD. They were compared with the group of 50 age-matched men who did not participate in war and did not have PTSD. Xerostomia, oral mucosal lesion, oral hygiene status, dental, and periodontal conditions, as well as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) were assessed and compared between the groups. Subjects in PTSD group had poorer oral hygiene, and periodontal status compared with the control subjects. Furthermore, they had less teeth than the control group (P = 0.04). Although, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index (P = 0.36), PTSD group had more decayed and missing teeth, but less filled teeth (P < 0.05 for all). According the Research Diagnosis Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD), PTSD patients had more TMD diagnoses compared with the control subjects. The most prevalent diagnosis was myofascial pain (48%) in PTSD group, while in the control group it was disc displacement with reduction (8%). It can be concluded that the oral health condition in PTSD patients is significantly affected compared with the control subjects.

Cortisol shows a well‐documented circadian rhythm with peak levels observed shortly after awakening and steadily decreasing values thereafter. This is a relatively robust diurnal pattern that is displayed by most non‐ill individuals, but recently it has been shown that in the general population some 10–15 per cent of individuals have ‘flat’ circadian cycles of cortisol. We have analyzed post‐awakening variations in levels of salivary cortisol in veterans without post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), veterans with diagnosed PTSD that were not hospitalized, and hospitalized veterans with PTSD. ‘Flat’ circadian cycles of salivary cortisol were observed in 6 per cent of veterans without PTSD, 29 per cent of non‐hospitalized veterans with PTSD, and 42 per cent of veterans hospitalized for PTSD. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

While there has been burgeoning interest in the psychiatric literature about the phenomenology and biology of panic disorder, there is little new information about the psychodynamics of this condition. The reintroduction of a psychodynamic perspective could be useful in guiding research strategies to identify traits which predispose to panic and in designing treatments to address such traits. A psychodynamic model hypothesizes a relationship between current psychological functioning, early experiences, and ongoing psychological traits. Recent published reports about the nature of underlying psychodynamics and psychological characteristics of panic disorder are discussed.

The present study investigates the etiological roles of premilitary risk factors, military entry conditions, war zone experiences, dissociative reactions to war zone experiences and homecoming reception in the development of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Croatian veterans. A total of 150 Croatian war veterans with the diagnosis of chronic combat-related PTSD, who sought treatment at Psychiatric Clinic, Osijek, Croatia, in the period 1993-1998, and who provided complete data, were selected as the sample for the present study from the treatment-seeking group of the ex-soldier population. Structural equation modeling is used to develop an etiological model concerning the relationships of premilitary risk factors, military entry conditions, war zone experiences, dissociative reactions, and homecoming reception with current symptoms of PTSD. An etiological model with satisfactory fit and parsimony was developed. In terms of the magnitude of variables' total contributions to the development of PTSD, war zone experiences are the most influential contributor which is followed by dissociative reactions, homecoming reception, military entry conditions and premilitary risk factors. Statistical significant direct effects to the development of PTSD were found for dissociative reactions and low family postwar support. The etiology of combat-related PTSD among Croatian veterans remains largely unexplained. Partial explanations are omission of other etiological factors, retrospective nature of the data and small study sample. The results are the source of questions for further research.

Key wordsSocial functioning is assessed according to 84 questioned subjects with schizophrenic disorder and their 84 key figures. Schizophrenic subjects showed significant dysfunction in all reviewed areas of behaviour and social roles. Key figures of all schizophrenic subjects most often showed a positive attitude in regard to the future of the schizophrenic members of their family. In relation to social hnctioning of the schizophrenic subject and the attitude of family key figures there is a statistically significant difference as well as a relationship. Results of assessment confimied the impact of family life on social hnctioning of the schizophrenic patient and stresses the importance of active family support in rehabilitation programs.family attitudes, schizophrenic disorder, social functioning.