The effect of different traumatic experiences on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

This investigation was conducted during the war in Croatia from 1991 to 1993. General characteristics, traumas, and frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared in three groups of soldiers: (1) soldiers who sustained non-disabling injuries; (2) soldiers who sustained permanently disabling injuries; (3) active soldiers (controls). Significant differences were found in general characteristics and in PTSD in the groups observed. Both groups of wounded soldiers were significantly younger (mean of 8 years), fewer of them were married, and they had fewer children than active soldiers (controls). The differences in marital status and the number of children were obviously due to the age difference. Soldiers who sustained non-disabling injuries developed PTSD significantly more often than soldiers who sustained permanently disabling injuries and active soldiers (controls). Possible reasons for the differences of PTSD in compared groups of soldiers are discussed.