Do Vietnam Veterans Suffer from Toxic Neurasthenia?

Abstract

This paper evaluates the claim that Vietnam veterans with psychiatric disorders are suffering from toxic neurasthenia--a neurasthenic syndrome caused by exposure to pesticides while serving in Vietnam.

Historical approaches to post-combat disorders

“…Some veterans suffering from chronic somatic symptoms attributed their illness to the effects of herbicide exposure, while it was also claimed to have been the cause of birth defects in their children. Indeed, the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia suggested that exposure to Agent Orange could have led to a form of 'toxic neurasthenia' (Hall & MacPhee 1985). To date, scientific and epidemiological studies have failed to identify a causal link (Boyle et al 1989;Anonymous 1994).…”

The Agent Orange Controversy in Australia: A Contribution to the Debate*

“…The results suggest that the small excess of symptoms among Ranchhanders was due t o a combination of over-reporting (probably because of the publicity given to the adverse effects of exposure to the herbicides they sprayed) and to the difference in combat exposure between men who flew cargo aircraft well outside enemy range and the Ranchhanders who flew their aircraft at stalling speed at treetop level over enemy held positions. 29 Modest support for the Ranchhand study findings comes from the study by Suskind and Hertzberg26 of the health of 367 men, of whom 204 had been occupationally exposed to dioxin in the course of the manufacture of the herbicide 2,4,5-T. Exposure to dioxin contaminated herbicide was indicated by the occurrence of chloracne (a reliable sign of dioxin exposure) in 86 per cent of cases.…”

“…29 Modest support for the Ranchhand study findings comes from the study by Suskind and Hertzberg26 of the health of 367 men, of whom 204 had been occupationally exposed to dioxin in the course of the manufacture of the herbicide 2,4,5-T. Several features of the results, however, argue against their being interpreted as evidence in favour of the symptoms being a consequence of herbicide exposure.…”

“…29 The strongest doubts about the plausibility of van Tiggelin's analogy derive from the striking similarity between the symptoms of which the Vietnam veterans complain and those reported among the substantial numbers of psychiatric casualties who have occurred among the veterans of all modern wars. First, the veterans' symptoms are nonspecific: they occur after such a variety of different events, including industrial accidents in which no chemicals are involved,36.37 that no inference can be made as to their cause.…”

“…The analogy is superficially attractive but closer examination reveals that it is a poor one as we have argued in detail elsewhere. 29 Briefly, the reasons are as follows. First, the veterans' symptoms are nonspecific: they occur after such a variety of different events, including industrial accidents in which no chemicals are involved,36.37 that no inference can be made as to their cause.…”