Traumatic stress disorder: diagnostic and clinical issues in former prisoners of war.

Examined are a variety of clinical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of former prisoners of war (POWs). Difficulties and complexities in understanding and diagnosing PTSD in former POWs presenting symptomatic complaints associated with this disorder are explored. Data collected on former POWs complaining of PTSD and diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria revealed Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) clinical profiles appropriate for clinical application. Comparative data between German-held and Japanese-held POWs experiencing PTSD and adjustment-related stressors are discussed. Import on clinical strategies with diagnosed patients suggests both behavioral approaches to treatment and future directions in research.