POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS AND ASSOCIATED DISORDERS AMONG VIETNAM VETERANS - THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMBAT EXPOSURE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

The hypothesis is tested that individuals exposed to traumatic stress who currently have lower social support have higher rates of post-trau matic stress and associated disorders. To test this, the current preva lence of five psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress, generalized anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse, were s tudied among a random sample of veterans who served in Vietnan (N = 2, 490) and a random sample of ''era'' veterans who did not (N = 1,972). Logistic regression was used to analyze each disorder, controlling for past combat exposure, current social status, childhood delinquency, m ilitary adjustment, and current social support. Combat exposure was th e best predictor of post-traumatic stress and was also associated with anxiety and depression, but not alcohol or drug abuse. Substance abus e was associated with childhood delinquency, and the best predictor of drug abuse was illicit Army drug use. Lower social support was associ ated with all disorders, except drug abuse. Although the causal nexus is not clear in this case, this study suggests that future research an d clinical interventions should not overlook the significance of socia l support among victims of traumatic stress.