Full Access
Mental and physical health status in a community sample of New Zealand Vietnam War veterans
Ms. Carol Vincent,
Kerry Chamberlain,
Nigel Long,
Ms. Carol Vincent
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this authorKerry Chamberlain
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this authorNigel Long
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this authorMs. Carol Vincent,
Kerry Chamberlain,
Nigel Long,
Ms. Carol Vincent
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this authorKerry Chamberlain
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this authorNigel Long
Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North
Search for more papers by this author*Department of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Fax 64 6 350 5611.
Abstract
Abstract: The data presented in this paper were obtained by a survey involving 573 New Zealand Vietnam veterans. It represents the first comprehensive report on the mental and physical health of a community sample of these ex-service personnel. Although most of these veterans were reasonably healthy for their age, a small proportion was substantially worse off than their Vietnam veteran peers, reporting relatively low levels of psychological wellbeing, relatively high levels of psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder, a greater number and severity of physical health symptoms, lower self-rated health status, and making more frequent contacts with health care providers.
References
- 1 Centers for Disease Control Vietnam Experience Study. Health status of Vietnam veterans: I. Psychosocial characteristics. JAMA 1988; 259: 2701–7.
- 2 Centers for Disease Control Vietnam Experience Study. Health status of Vietnam veterans. II. Physical health. JAMA 1988; 259: 2708–14.
- 3
Kulka RA,
Schlenger WE,
Fairbank JA,
Jordon BK, et al.
Assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder in the community. Prospects and pitfalls from recent studies of Vietnam veterans.
Psychol Assess
1991; 3: 547–60.
10.1037/1040-3590.3.4.547 Google Scholar
- 4 Kaylor JA, King DW, King LA. Psychological effects of military service in Vietnam: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 1987; 102: 257–71.
- 5 Yehuda R., Southwick SM, Giller EL. Exposure to atrocities and severity of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans. Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149: 333–6.
- 6 Green BL, Grace MC, Lindy JD, Gleser GC. War stressors and symptom persistence in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Anxiety Dis 1990; 4: 31–9.
- 7 Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 3rd ed. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1987.
- 8 Fairbank JA, Keane TM, Malloy PF. Some preliminary data on the characteristics of Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol 1983; 56: 912–19.
- 9 Oei TPS, Lim B., Hennessy B. Psychological dysfunction in battle: combat stress reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clin Psychol Rev 1990; 10: 355–88.
- 10 Keane TM, Wolfe J. Comorbidity in post-traumatic stress disorder: an analysis of community and clinical studies. J Appl Soc Psychol 1990; 20: 1776–88.
- 11 Jordon, BK, Schlenger WE, Hough R., Kulka RA, et al. Life-time and current prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders among Vietnam veterans and controls. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1991; 48: 207–15.
- 12 Solomon Z., Mikulincer M. Combat stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder and somatic complaints among Israeli soldiers. J Psychosom Res 1987; 31: 131–7.
- 13
Waigandt A.,
Evans D.,
Davis LG.
The health status of the Vietnam veteran and implications for the health educator.
Health Educ Res Theor Pract
1986; 1: 337–41.
10.1093/her/1.4.337 Google Scholar
- 14 Eisen SA, Goldberg J., True WR, Henderson WG. A co-twin control study of the effects of the Vietnam war on the self-reported physical health of veterans. Am J Epidemiol 1991; 134: 49–58.
- 15 Boyle CA, Decoufle P., O'Brien TR. Long-term health consequences if military service in Vietnam. Epidemiol Rev 1989; 11: 1–27.
- 16 Davidson JRT, Kudler HS, Saunders W. B., Smith RD. Symptom and comorbidity patterns in World War II and Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Compr Psychiatry 1990; 31: 162–70.
- 17 Green BL, Lindy JD, Grace MC, Gleser GC. Multiple diagnosis in posttraumatic stress disorder: the role of war stressors. J Nerv Ment Dis 1989; 177: 329–35.
- 18 Boman B. Psychiatric disturbances among Australian Vietnam veterans. Milit Med 1985; 150: 77–9.
- 19 Fett MJ, Adena MA, Cobbin DM. Mortality among Australian conscripts of the Vietnam conflict era. I. Death from all causes. Am J Epidemiol 1987; 125: 869–77.
- 20 Hawkes R. Readjustment issues of the returned Vietnam veteran. Aust Soc Work 1987; 40: 12–16.
- 21 O'Toole BI, Adena MA, Jones MP. Risk factors for mortality in Australian Vietnam era national servicemen: a case control study. Community Health Stud 1988; 12: 408–17.
- 22 Tennant C., Streimer JH, Temperly H. Memories of Vietnam: post-traumatic stress disorder in Australian veterans. Aust NZ J Psychiatry 1990; 24: 29–36.
- 23 Long N., Chamberlain K., Vincent C. The health and mental health of New Zealand Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. NZ Med J 1992; 105: 417–19.
- 24 Green BL, Grace MC, Lindy JD, Gleser GC, Leonard A. Risk factors for PTSD and other diagnoses in a general sample of Vietnam veterans. Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147: 729–33.
- 25
Keane TM,
Fairbank JA,
Caddell JM,
Zimmering RT, et al.
Clinical evaluation of a measure to assess combat exposure.
Psychol Assess
1989; 1: 53–5.
10.1037/1040-3590.1.1.53 Google Scholar
- 26
Pennebaker JW.
The psychology of physical symptoms. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1982.
10.1007/978-1-4613-8196-9 Google Scholar
- 27 Monterio LA. Monitoring health status and medical care. Massachusetts: Ballinger, 1976.
- 28 Salthouse TA, Kausler DH, Saults JS. Age, self-assessed health status, and cognition. J Gerontol 1990; 45: 156–60.
- 29
Idler EL,
Kasl S.
Health perceptions and survival: do global evaluations of health status really predict mortality
J Gerontol
1991; 46: 555–65.
10.1093/geronj/46.2.S55 Google Scholar
- 30 Veit CT, Ware JE. The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. J Consult Clin Psychol 1983; 51: 730–42.
- 31 Keane TM, Caddell JM, Taylor KL. The Mississippi scale. Boston, Massachusetts: VA Medical Center, 1986.
- 32
Watson CG.
Psychometric posttraumatic stress disorder measurement techniques: a review.
Psychol Assess
1990; 2: 460–9.
10.1037/1040-3590.2.4.460 Google Scholar
- 33 Keane TM, Caddell JM, Taylor KL. Mississippi scale for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: three studies in reliability and validity. J Consult Clin Psychol 1988; 56: 85–90.
- 34 McFall ME, MacKay PW, Donovan DM. Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and severity of substance abuse in Vietnam veterans. J Stud Alcohol 1992; 53: 357–63.
- 35 New Zealand census of population and dwellings. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Statistics, 1986.
- 36 World Health Organization manual of the international statistical classification of diseases, injuries and causes of death. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1967.
- 37 Schlenger WE, Kulka, RA. Performance of the Fairbank-Keane MMPI scale and other self-report measures in identifying posttraumatic stress disorder. Paper presented at the 95th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New York, 1987.
- 38 Hyslop J., Dowland J., Hickling J. Health facts in New Zealand. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Health, 1983.
- 39 Salmond GC, Geddes MK. The health of former servicemen. Wellington: War Pensions Medical Research Trust Board, 1977.
- 40 National health survey: health related actions. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1992.
- 41 Vincent C., Long N., Chamberlain K. Health, mental health, and well-being of New Zealand Vietnam veterans. Palmerston North: Department of Psychology, Massey University, 1991.
