Epidemiology

Epidemiology

In the United States, epidemiological studies have generally been divided into two areas:

study of Vietnam veterans
study of the general population

Epidemiology Among Vietnam Veterans

Vietnam veterans are often assumed to be at an increased risk for suicede. According to Bullman and Kang (1995), the risk of suicide among Vietnam veterans is not significantly greater than among non-vietnam veterans. Rather, select groups of Vietnam veterans are at an increased risk. These groups include those veterans diagnosed with PTSD and those who were wounded.

The following statistics were compiled by Kulka, et al., (1990) as part of the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study:

Note: Words such as "current" refer to the publishing date (1990).

15.2% of all male Vietnam theater veterans (479,000 out of 3,140,000 men who served in Vietnam) are current cases of PTSD.
8.1% of all female Vietnam theater veterans (610 out of 7,200 women who served in Vietnam) are current cases of PTSD.
30.9% of all male Vietnam theater veterans have had full-blown PTSD at some point in their lives. 22.5% have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. Thus, a total of more than half of all male Vietnam veterans have experienced "clinically serious stress reaction symptoms."
26.9% of all female Vietnam theater veterans have had full-blown PTSD at some point in their lives. 22.5% have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. Thus, a total of almost half of all female Vietnam veterans have experienced "clinically serious stress reaction symptoms."
Almost 1,700,000 Vietnam theater veterans have experienced "clinically serious stress reaction symptoms."
40% of Vietnam theater veteran men have been divorced at least once (10 percent had two or more divorces), 14.1% report high levels of marital problems, and 23.1% have high levels of parental problems.
Almost half of male Vietnam veterans currently suffering form PTSD have been arrested or in jail at least once, 34.2% more than once, and 11.5% have been convicted of a felony.
The estimated lifetime prevalence of alhcohol abuse or dependence among male theater veterans is 39.2%, and the estimate for current alcohol abuse or dependance is 11.2%.
The estimated lifetime prevalence of drug abuse or dependance among male theater veterans is 5.7%, and the estimate for current drug abuse or dependance is 1.8%.

Epidemiology Among the General Population

PTSD in the general population is caused by a number of factors. Most common are violent car accidents, rape, and witnessing someone else be murdered. In their 1987 study, Helzer, Robins, and McEvoy interviewed 2,500 residents of St. Louis:

15% of both sexes had the sympotoms of PTSD.
Less than 1% had ever had full-blown PTSD.
Women had PTSD at twice the rate of men.
The most common couse of PTSD among women was physical attack.
All PTSD cases in men were caused by participation in combat or by witnessing someone else get hurt or killed.
In about 1/2 of the cases, the symptoms lasted less than 6 months.
In about 1/2 of the cases, the symptoms lasted longer than three years.
80% of people with PTSD had other psychiatric disorders as well (OCD, mood disorders, major depression).
Victims of PTSD had high rates of truancy, vandalism, alcohol use, and running away before the age of 15.

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Questions? E-mail the author: Gregory Bayse