The impact of killing in war on mental health symptoms and related functioning.
This study examined the mental health and functional consequences associated with killing combatants and noncombatants. Using the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS) survey data, the authors reported the percentage of male Vietnam theater veterans (N = 1200) who killed an enemy combatant, civilian, and/or prisoner of war. They next examined the relationship between killing in war and a number of mental health and functional outcomes using the clinical interview subsample of the NVVRS (n = 259). Controlling for demographic variables and exposure to general combat experiences, the authors found that killing was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, dissociation, functional impairment, and violent behaviors. Experiences of killing in war are important to address in the evaluation and treatment of veterans.
San Francisco VA Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Shira.Maguen@va.gov
Shira
S
Maguen
Thomas J
TJ
Metzler
Brett T
BT
Litz
Karen H
KH
Seal
Sara J
SJ
Knight
Charles R
CR
Marmar
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D014744:Vietnam; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014857:Warfare