Psychiatric casualties of World War II.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the natural history of traumatised war veterans.


METHODS
A clinical audit of 147 World War II psychiatric war pensioners.


RESULTS
Of these veterans only 37% have a clinically sustainable DSM diagnosis of chronic post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-related and somatic symptoms of severity attributable to active war service, were volunteered by 48%. These symptoms were insufficient to fulfil DSM diagnosis criteria for PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD is a robust clinical entity, yet many victims of trauma appear to suffer chronic sub-syndromal PTSD. The clinical spectrum of trauma response is more variable than is currently diagnostically acceptable by DSM criteria.
Psychiatric Consultation Service, Christchurch Hospital.
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Macleod
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*