CHRONICITY OF SYMPTOMS IN COMBAT VETERANS WITH PTSD TREATED BY THE VAMENTAL-HEALTH SYSTEM

Self-report questionnaire data, collected at two stages of treatment, are presented for a group of 40 combat veterans with PTSD treated with in the VA mental health system. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Mississippi Scale, and Dissociative Experiences Scale prio r to treatment at a PTSD outpatient clinic and at midtreatment follow- up. Patients' symptom reports at follow-up were not correlated with le ngth of time in treatment. Further, results suggest that patients' sel f-reported symptoms on these measures do not show evidence of improvem ent after entry into the VA mental health system. Explanations for thi s apparent chronicity of symptoms are discussed.