PTSD 40 years later: Incidence and person-situation correlates in former POWs

Abstract

A statewide sample of WWII ex‐POWs (N = 442) responded to questionnaires that sampled current and past difficulties with PTSD‐related symptoms; an incidence of serious difficulties with these symptoms of 56% was revealed. Retrospective reports of temporal patterns revealed no consistent patterns of symptom occurrence, but, rather, a waxing and waning of difficulties over the 40‐year period. Unexpectedly, measures of severity of the POW experiences did not predict current symptomatology. Rank at time of capture, however, was consistently and strongly predictive of PTSD. It is suggested that PTSD is a highly persistent phenomenon and that both situation and person variables contribute to the development and maintenance of PTSD.

Validation of PTSD measures for older combat veterans

“…These symptoms phasically cycle over time, but largely retain their potency. Zeiss and Dickman (1989) assessed the longitudinal course of PTSD and suggested that trauma may be a critical threshold event, as opposed to a cumulative or additive one. When the threshold has been reached, additional increments of severity or duration have no effect.…”

Selection of Key Stressors to Develop Virtual Environments for Practicing Stress Management Skills with Military Personnel Prior to Deployment

“…69,70 It seems that exposure to longer potentially traumatic events is associated with a greater severity of PTSD symptoms. 71 Other characteristics that seem to increase the likelihood of psychological harm include an effect of surprise as well as being trapped or exposed to the point of exhaustion. 30 One overview of the literature on PTSD, 36 among others, supported the idea of dividing traumatic events into two categories.…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnosis, Prevalence, and Research Advances

“…Those studied have included Vietnam, World War II, and Korean War veterans, Holocaust survivors, prisoners of war, victims of natural disasters, warexposed civilians and immigrants and refugees, victims of terrorist attacks, and victims of sexual abuse (Ayalon 1983;Brown and Anderson 1991;Eaton, Sigal, and Weinfeld 1982;Favaro et al 1999aFavaro et al , 1999bKinzie et al 1990;Kluznik et al 1986;Kuch and Cox 1992;Ladd and Cairns 1996;Levav and Abramson 1984;Sack et al 1994Sack et al , 1995Sutker et al 1990;Sutker, Bugg, and Allain 1991;Yehuda, Southwick, and Giller 1992;Yehuda et al , 1996Zeiss and Dickman 1989). Empirical results support the presentation of PTSD-associated symptoms long after being removed from the stressful context in which symptoms first occurred.…”