Clinical outcomes of Gulf veterans' medical assessment programme referrals to specialized centers for Gulf veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study sought to ascertain whether referring veterans of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf conflict with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to specialized centers with a knowledge of military culture and the impact of conflict resulted in successful psychotherapeutic outcomes at 1-year follow-up times. A total of 120 referrals to specialist centers were made by general physicians. Of these, 19 were non-PTSD referrals, and 80 patients were confirmed by a psychiatrist as having PTSD. A degree of success in psychotherapeutic interventions for PTSD at 1 year, determined from general practitioner follow-up correspondence, was obtained for 95% of referrals. There were no distinguishing features between successful and unsuccessful outcomes. This study shows that early attention, i.e., diagnosis and treatment by psychiatrists knowledgeable regarding the service environment, can be beneficial for this group.
Lee
Harry A
HA
Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme, Baird Health Centre, Gassiot House, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
Gabriel
Roger
R
Bale
Amanda J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014728:Veterans