Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the files of Australian servicemen hospitalized in 1942-1952.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in servicemen hospitalized 1942-1952.


METHODS
Hospital files of servicemen (n = 590) were studied and PTSD symptoms in groups, based on service experience, were compared.


RESULTS
Based on their hospital files, 19% of servicemen were classified as having partial PTSD. No full cases of PTSD were identified, due primarily to the small number of recorded avoidance symptoms and the limited information in relation to the stressor criterion. Prisoners of war had the highest reported avoidance and lowest intrusive symptoms compared with other combatants.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD symptoms may have been common during and after World War II. At that time avoidance was not considered a symptom of disorder. Intrusive and arousal symptoms may be the core symptoms of PTSD and avoidance symptoms need to be reconsidered.
Watson
Paddy Burges
PB
Hobart Clinic, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Daniels
Brett
B
D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D054042:Bombs; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004325:Dreams; D006753:Hospital Records; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013648:Tasmania; D013850:Thinking; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047789:World War II; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology