Increased PTSD, physical disability reported in female Vietnam War vets

NEW YORK — Female Vietnam War veterans have increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and physical disabilities, but a low mortality rate, according to data presented by Kathy Magruder, MPH, PhD, from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Little research has been done on the result of combat zones on mental and physical health in women, Magruder explained.

In addition, PTSD was a new disorder identified by the DSM-III in 1980, 5 years after the Vietnam War ended.

In the epidemiologic study, researchers interviewed 4,645 women who served in Vietnam, near Vietnam or in the U.S. in one of the four Armed Services using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for psychiatric diagnoses and questionnaires for health and functioning. Phase 1 of the study comprised a mail survey, phase 2 consisted of a telephone interview and phase 3 included medical record abstraction.

The mean age of the veterans who served in Vietnam was 68.3 years, near Vietnam was 68.6 years and in the U.S. was 66.2 years. Non-white minorities were rare at 5.2% in the Vietnam participants, 8.1% near Vietnam and 7.9% in the U.S.

Current PTSD was reported in 15.82% of Vietnam veterans; their physical functioning scores were 47.7 (a score of 100 indicates no disability) and mental functioning scores were 37.7.

“In summary, we found lower mortality rates, on the other hand their physical function is a little worse and the PTSD rates were definitely higher,” Magruder said. “Interestingly enough, I presented this study a few days ago to a group of women Vietnam veterans and they did not like this at all. They did not like the mortality [numbers]. They said, ‘We have been forgotten and you’re showing that we’re healthy-- they’re going to forget us again.’ …I was very surprised by their response,” Magruder said. – by Abigail Sutton

For more information:

Magruder K. Abstract #5057. Presented at: American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; May 3-7, 2014; New York.

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.