A mediational model of PTSD in World War II veterans exposed to mustard gas.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine associations among trauma-related contextual factors, initial psychological reactions, social support, and subsequent disclosure on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of World War II (WWII) veterans exposed to mustard gas (N = 305). A structural model suggested that initial psychological reaction mediated the relationship between variables related to the context of mustard gas exposure and severity of PTSD symptoms 50 years later. Unexpectedly, social support appeared to be positively related to PTSD symptoms, and not related to the contextual variables or initial psychological reactions. These findings contribute to our understanding of PTSD in older veterans, and have relevance for early intervention services to prevent PTSD among those at risk for exposure to toxic agents.
New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA.
M Kay
MK
Jankowski
Paula P
PP
Schnurr
Gary A
GA
Adams
Bonnie L
BL
Green
Julian D
JD
Ford
Matthew J
MJ
Friedman
D000368:Aged; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000506:poisoning*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047789:World War II
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas