Frueh B Christopher, Elhai Jon D, Grubaugh Anouk L, Monnier Jeannine, Kashdan Todd B, Sauvageot Julie A, Hamner Mark B, Burkett B G, Arana George W
Medical University of South Carolina, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Br J Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;186:467-72; discussion 473-5. doi: 10.1192/bjp.186.6.467.
There are concerns regarding the validity of combat exposure reports of veterans seeking treatment for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
To verify combat exposure history for a relevant sample through objective historical data.
Archival records were reviewed from the US National Military Personnel Records Center for 100 consecutive veterans reporting Vietnam combat in a Veterans Affairs PTSD clinic. Cross-sectional clinical assessment and 12-month service use data were also examined.
Although 93% had documentation of Vietnam war-zone service, only 41% of the total sample had objective evidence of combat exposure documented in their military record. There was virtually no difference between the Vietnam 'combat' and 'no combat' groups on relevant clinical variables.
A significant number of treatment-seeking Veterans Affairs patients may misrepresent their combat involvement in Vietnam. There are implications for the integrity of the PTSD database and the Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
在美国退伍军人事务医疗中心，对于寻求治疗与战斗相关创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的退伍军人的战斗暴露报告的有效性存在担忧。
通过客观历史数据核实相关样本的战斗暴露史。
从美国国家军事人事记录中心查阅了连续100名在退伍军人事务PTSD诊所报告有越南战斗经历的退伍军人的档案记录。还检查了横断面临床评估和12个月的服务使用数据。
尽管93%的人有越战战区服役的文件记录，但在整个样本中，只有41%的人在其军事记录中有战斗暴露的客观证据。在相关临床变量上，越南“战斗”组和“非战斗”组之间几乎没有差异。
大量寻求治疗的退伍军人事务患者可能会歪曲他们在越南的战斗经历。这对PTSD数据库的完整性和退伍军人事务医疗保健系统有影响。
