Post-traumatic stress disorder among wives of Kuwaiti veterans of the first Gulf War.

OBJECTIVES

To assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among wives of Gulf War Kuwaiti military men, divided into four groups according to degree of combat exposure: the retired, an active-in-the-army group (AIA) (involved in duties at the rear); an in-battle group (IB) (involved in combat); and a prisoners-of-war (POWs) group. To assess the relationship between wives' PTSD and indices of family adjustment, husbands' level of combat exposure, and PTSD status.

METHOD

One hundred and seventy-six wives were assessed with the PTSD Checklist for DSM-IV, the family adjustment device, and for anxiety/depression.

RESULTS

Fifty (28.4%) fulfilled criteria for probable PTSD. The prevalence was significantly associated with husbands' combat exposure, her presence in Kuwait, but not with husbands' PTSD status. Wives' PTSD was mostly predicted by their depression/anxiety scores.

CONCLUSION

The findings support the salience of effective social support, and the need for women empowerment issues in psychosocial intervention for this group.