Psychiatric illness in U.S. Air Force Viet Nam prisoners of war: a five- year follow-up

Abstract

The U.S. Air Force prisoners of war (POWs) experienced a profound degree of stress during the Viet Nam War. The psychiatric status of this population has been monitored by an ongoing voluntary follow-up program from the time of repatriation through the following five years. Data indicate a significant degree of psychiatric readjustment problems, which were greatest among POWs captured before 1969. These findings support the association of an unusually stressful environment with an increased incidence of psychiatric illness.

Does Wartime Captivity Affect Late-Life Mental Health? A Study of Vietnam-Era Repatriated Prisoners of War

“…Relatively little research is available on the emotional distress of Vietnam RPWs; most of what literature there is has focused on short-term adjustment (stress reactions) and other forms of psychological distress in one subgroup of Vietnam-era RPWs, Air Force pilots and crew (Ursano, Boydstun, & Wheatley, 1981). In this sample, Ursano and colleagues reported a fairly high level of psychiatric disturbance: 23% at repatriation, increasing to over 27% at 5-year follow-up for RPWs imprisoned before 1969, and 23% decreasing to just over 19% for RPWs imprisoned after 1969.…”

“…Specific to Vietnam-era RPWs, Ursano et al (1981) attributed the greater degree of psychiatric readjustment problems observed among Vietnam RPWs captured before 1969 relative to those observed among RPWs captured after 1969 to the harsher conditions under which those captured earlier were held, although they did not specifically ask about those conditions. Demographic factors were not related to psychiatric diagnostic status for RPWs captured before 1969, but for those captured post-1969, rank was a significant predictor of psychiatric diagnosis and suggested that higher rank might serve a protective function.…”

Provision of mental health services at the detention hospital in Guantanamo Bay.

“…These concepts are integrated fully into outpatient treatment and in conjunction with cognitive–behavioral techniques and supportive therapy, have been well received by the detainees. As noted above, also considered is the extensive research on repatriated American POWs and the difficulties they experienced both during and following their captivity (Cohen & Cooper, 1954; Cook, Riggs, Thompson, Coyne, & Sheikh, 2004; Goldstein et al, 1987; Hall & Malone, 1976; Hunter, 1975; Page, Engdahl, & Eberly, 1991; Polivy, Zeitlin, Herman, & Beal, 1994; Query, Megran, & McDonald, 1986; Rundell, Ursano, Holloway, & Siberman, 1989; Sutker, Allain, Johnson, & Butters, 1992; Ursano, Boydstun, & Wheatley, 1981; Zeiss & Dickman, 1989). Mental health treatment for the detainees takes all of this into consideration in order to optimize care, prevent mental health symptoms and development of disorders, and to provide consultation to the leadership to assist in further avoiding mental health disorders in the population.…”