Ba. Kaup et al., SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS AND PTSD IN ELDERLY WORLD-WAR-II VETERANS, The American journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2(3), 1994, pp. 239-243
The authors reviewed clinic records of 20 WWII veterans referred for e
valuation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twelve patients qua
lified for a diagnosis of PTSD, and eight reported several symptoms of
PTSD. The mast frequent symptoms were insomnia (80%), nightmares (75%
), and irritability (65%). Fourteen veterans had an exacerbation of sy
mptoms occurring with life stresses, including retirement, deteriorati
ng health, or death of a loved one. The authors conclude that elderly
WWII combat veterans should be monitored for changes in PTSD symptoms
when significant stressful life events occur.