Persistence and Patterns of Combat-Related PTSD, Medical, and Social Dysfunction in Male Military Veterans 50 Years After Deployment to Vietnam (May 2025)-Persistence and Patterns of Combat-Related PTSD, Medical, and Social Dysfunction in Male Military Veterans 50 Years After Deployment to Vietnam (May 2025)

Persistence and Patterns of Combat-Related PTSD, Medical, and Social Dysfunction in Male Military Veterans 50 Years After Deployment to Vietnam (May 2025)

Back to course

Pdf Summary

The study examines the long-term impact of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in male Vietnam veterans, focusing on health and social outcomes 50 years post-deployment. The research follows a cohort of 12,400 veterans, with surveys conducted in 1984, 1998, and 2020 on a subset of 729 veterans who were deployed to Vietnam. Results reveal four PTSD patterns over 35 years: current PTSD, prior PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, and never PTSD. Veterans with current PTSD showed the poorest health and social outcomes, while those with subthreshold or prior PTSD had intermediate outcomes. The study highlights a strong, enduring relationship between combat exposure and PTSD, with social support mitigating some adverse effects.<br /><br />Key findings include that veterans exposed to heavy combat reported significantly higher PTSD symptoms and associated dysfunctions, such as anxiety, depression, lower social support, and marital breakdowns. A significant portion (42%) faced subthreshold PTSD symptoms that, although below clinical thresholds, still resulted in adverse health outcomes, suggesting a need for policy changes to improve access to care for these veterans.<br /><br />The research emphasizes the role of social support, noting that lower perceived support was linked with higher PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms over the years were closely related to worse physical and mental health, including higher depression and anxiety levels.<br /><br />This study also fills a gap in long-term observational data regarding PTSD trajectory and highlights that subthreshold PTSD can significantly affect veterans, underlining the necessity for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to expand PTSD-related services and treatments to include those with subthreshold symptoms. The findings underscore the lifelong impact of combat exposure on mental health and the critical importance of social support systems in mitigating these effects.

Keywords

Vietnam veterans

combat-related PTSD

long-term impact

health outcomes

social outcomes

subthreshold PTSD

social support

mental health

DVA services

PTSD trajectory