Gulf War illness research: Separating the wheat from the chaff

Clinical research of veterans' illnesses from the neuropsychology and medic al literature are reviewed. Some studies reveal no significant findings, wh ile others indeed detect a higher incidence of clinical and laboratory abno rmalities in veterans of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Neurops ychological deficits are negligible and more often associated with affectiv e, than cognitive, disruption. Some explanations of the results are offered , as are recommendations regarding the utility of clinical research.