Physical health complaints in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: A preliminary report

Research has detailed the psychosocial parameters of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but little information has been reported on it's physical health concomitants. Many aspects of the PTSD syndrome may interact to create chronic stress reactions that are related to the emergence of disease states. As part of an initial step in exploring the physical health risk associated with PTSD we examined self-reported health problems in two matched groups of treatment-seeking Vietnam combat veterans with and without PTSD. Overall, the PTSD group reported more current health problems, but no more physician diagnosed disorders than their non-PTSD cohort. Possible mechanisms responsible for the report of health complaints in PTSD are discussed.