RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AND SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS IN PERSIAN-GULF-WAR VETERANS

Background: While prior studies show that combat veterans with posttra umatic stress disorder (PTSD) report more physical symptoms than veter ans without PTSD, the link between PTSD and somatic complaints in Pers ian Gulf War veterans (PGWVs) is yet to be evaluated. Methods: A quest ionnaire booklet was completed by 188 PGWVs, of whom half were patient s in a veterans health screening clinic and half were non-treatment-se eking volunteers on active duty. The booklet included the Combat Expos ure Scale, the Mississippi Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (MPTSD ), and a subjective symptom-based health questionnaire. Results: The 2 4 PGWVs (12.8%) with PTSD (MPTSD score greater than or equal to 116) r eported more combat exposure (P=.02) and a greater number of physical symptoms (P=.001) than other PGWVs. Fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, diz ziness, back pain, stomach ache, and numbness were much more likely to be reported by those with PTSD (MPTSD score greater than or equal to 116) than by those without PTSD (MPTSD score less than or equal to 95) . Conclusions: Physicians examining PGWVs should be alert to the possi bility of PTSD in this group and that those with PTSD are more likely to report physical symptoms that may overlap with those in Persian Gul f syndrome, Consequently, mental health screening is essential, since for those veterans with PTSD diagnosis of other coexisting conditions may be confounded and early effective treatment of their PTSD may be d elayed. Also, given the increased reporting of certain symptoms by tho se with PTSD, those seeking the cause of Persian Gulf syndrome should control for PTSD when determining the symptom cluster that may constit ute this condition.