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- Title
Current posttraumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Dutch Resistance veterans from World War II.
- Authors
Falger, Paul R.J.; Op den Velde, Wybrand; Hovens, Johannes E.; Schouten, Erik G.W.; De Groen, Johannes H.M.; Van Duijn, Hans; Falger, P R; Op den Velde, W; Hovens, J E; Schouten, E G; De Groen, J H; Van Duijn, H
- Abstract
The extraordinary trauma experienced by Resistance veterans from World War II (WW II) and other veterans may be associated with an increased incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic morbidity, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study explored some relationships between current PTSD and CVD risk factors in 147 male Dutch WW II Resistance veterans. They were compared to 65 same-aged male patients with a recent myocardial infarction and 79 surgical patients. Of these subjects, WW II Resistance veterans scored highest on CVD risk factors (i.e., angina pectoris, type A behavior, life stressors, and vital exhaustion), except smoking. Fifty-six percent of these veterans were currently suffering from PTSD. They reported CVD risk factors, in particular type A behavior and vital exhaustion, more often than veterans without PTSD; they also reported more premorbid adverse living conditions. These data suggest that early sensitization to environmental stressors may be associated with a high prevalence of current PTSD and excess CVD risk factors in subjects exposed to extraordinary war-time trauma and that this may lead to vital exhaustion.
- Subjects
FATIGUE (Physiology); POST-traumatic stress disorder; ANGINA pectoris; PSYCHOSOMATIC disorders; AROUSAL (Physiology); COMPARATIVE studies; LIFE change events; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; PERSONALITY development; RESEARCH; SMOKING; PSYCHOLOGY of veterans; EVALUATION research; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, 1992, Vol 57, Issue 4, p164
- ISSN
0033-3190
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1159/000288594