[The assessment of anxiety levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to measure state and trait anxiety levels of veterans who developed posttraumatic stress disorder following combat or landmine injuries, or vehicle accidents.


METHODS
The anxiety levels of 98 veterans (mean age 20 years; range 18 to 25 years) were measured with the use of the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI I-II). Diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was made on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM III-R.


RESULTS
The number of patients with high levels of anxiety was not in significant relationship with education level and trauma type (p>0.05). Regardless of education levels and trauma types, the number of patients with high trait anxiety significantly outweighed the number of patients with high state anxiety (p<0.05). Trait anxiety levels differed significantly between primary school and high school graduates (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Veterans should be under close supervision to determine and treat increased anxiety which worsens the quality of life. Special attention should be paid to appropriate psychological rehabilitation throughout the treatment plan.
Sinici
Ebru
E
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Gülhane Military School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. esinici@mynet.com
Yildiz
Cemil
C
Tunay
Servet
S
Ozkan
Hüseyin
H
Altinmakas
Mehmet
M
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology