THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PREMILITARY SCHOOL RECORD DATA AND RISK FORPOSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AMONG VIETNAM-WAR VETERANS

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Vietnam veterans' r isk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was correlated with their premilitary school performance. The authors compared both primary and secondary school record data on hospitalized chemically dependent PTS D patients with those of both non-PTSD, chemically dependent and commu nity controls. All participants were male Vietnam war combat veterans. The comparisons were made with MANCOVA analyses with the effects of c ombat and age differences between groups controlled. For the most part ;, primary-school grade point average, absenteeism, and tardiness data on three groups did not differ significantly. However, the mean secon dary school grade points of the future PTSD patients mere generally su bstantially lower than those of controls. Additionally, more secondary school absenteeism and tardiness were reported among future PTSD pati ents than in the controls. The groups did not differ significantly on number of extracurricular activities. Academic weakness, absenteeism, and tardiness in secondary school appear to be moderately strong predi ctors of vulnerability to PTSD after traumatization. It also supports the claim that chronic PTSD is, in part, the result of weaknesses pres ent before exposure to trauma.