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J.E. Morgan, Ph.D., N.Fiedler, Ph.D., L.A.Tiersky,
Ph.D., G.Lange, Ph.D., J.DeLuca, Ph.D., J.Ottenweiller, Ph.D, and B.H.
Natelson, M.D.
Gulf War Research Center-Department of Veterans Affairs
NJ Health Care System, East Orange, NJ
In a recent review of the literature on Gulf War Illness
(GWI), Haley (1997) determined that reports of the prevalence of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Gulf War veterans were vastly over
reported. Utilizing a critical analysis of statistical data in previous
reports, he concluded that most diagnoses of PTSD in previous studies
of Gulf War veterans, result from misdiagnoses. The purpose of the present
study was to determine the prevalence of PTSD within this sample of Gulf
War veterans, and to evaluate which measures are most sensitive for its
diagnosis. The present investigation consisted of comprehensive assessments
of 164 Gulf War registry veterans, 72.5% of whom (119) presented with
self reported somatic and cognitive symptoms, consistent with GWI, i.e.,
fatiguing illness ("sick" veterans). Of the total number of
veterans seen, almost 21% (34) had an unequivocal diagnosis of PTSD based
upon results of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). However, consistent
with Haley’s criticisms of the Mississippi Scale (M-PTSD), patients
with major depressive disorder scored well above the accepted cutoff for
PTSD (111), revealing the rather weak specificity of this instrument.
PTSD appears to be clearly associated with GWI, but must be diagnosed
utilizing appropriate clinical instruments.
KEYWORDS: Traumatic Stress, Gulf War, Measurement
This work was supported by the Department of Veteran Affairs
through the New Jersey Center for Environmental Hazards Research. |
