22 Veterans A Day
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Evidence of organic psychological deficits in Vietnam veterans exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange was established through a neuropsychological battery. Also, the exposed Vietnam veterans, in contrast to a matched control group of Vietnam veterans, showed a significantly higher rate of posttraumatic stress disorder and its associated features: depression, anxiety, and increased aggression. The latter was subdivided into uncontrollable pressures, verbal violence, violence against objects, assaults, and suicidal thoughts. Active cases of chloracne, a medical indicator, were used to determine Agent Orange exposure.
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Veterans Statistics Regarding PTSD
I first want to briefly explain what PTSD is and the effects it can have on one’s daily quality of life. Many people experience this very debilitating condition and suffer in varying degrees. The onset of PTSD usually coincides with having witnessed a very traumatic event or having a life threatening event happen to them. These stressful events can take on many different facets including; witnessing people being killed or injured, being physically harmed yourself, childhood trauma, and many other possible incidents.
The symptoms related to PTSD can vary from person to person and can also take many years to manifest. Symptoms that generally occur involve flashbacks, night terrors, frightening thoughts, sleeplessness, feeling numb, anger, irritability, anxiety, and many others. These symptoms can be very debilitating and cause one to have a feeling of not being in control. People will also often try and medicate themselves by drinking too much, doing drugs, and engaging in other addictive and unhealthy behaviors.
A recent study done by RAND cites these startling facts about PTSD:
- there are over 2.3 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (compared to 2.6 million Vietnam veterans who fought in Vietnam; there are 8.2 million “Vietnam Era Veterans” (personnel who served anywhere during any time of the Vietnam War)
- At least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or Depression. Other accepted studies have found a PTSD prevalence of 14%
- 50% of those with PTSD do not seek treatment
- out of the half that seek treatment, only half of them get “minimally adequate” treatment
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Statistics for Veteransby | posted in Mental Health
It is important to note the figure that states that 50% of people with PTSD do not seek treatment. I believe that one of the reasons this number is so high is because PTSD is not a physical ailment and it is something that people can suffer with silently. I also think people especially those who have been in the military can see it as a weakness to suffer from such a disease and may be embarrassed about their struggle with PTSD.
The goal of every person suffering from PTSD should be to seek treatment options and realize that they do not need to suffer alone and that they are not alone in their suffering. Here is a link for a test that can be used to see if you are suffering from PTSD. https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=mentalHealth&contentPage=mh_screening_tools/PTSD_SCREENING.HTML
The Vietnam War
Having been over since April 1975, this war sparked a surge in military research and ultimately led to the first diagnoses of PTSD in 1980. Researchers and surveyors are still studying the aftereffects of the Vietnam War.
30.9
Minimum percentage of Vietnam veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder at some point.
Minimum percentage of Vietnam veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder at some point.
84.8
Percentage of PTSD-diagnosed Vietnam veterans currently suffering at least moderate impairment, 30+ years after combat.
Percentage of PTSD-diagnosed Vietnam veterans currently suffering at least moderate impairment, 30+ years after combat.
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 20, 2012
Mental health experts say that kind of delayed trauma isn’t unusual. Major life events such as retirement often trigger personal reassessment and forgotten memories.
But for Vietnam veterans who returned decades ago to a harsh reception and limited mental health options, that could mean a new wave of stress and serious psychological issues as their generation enters retirement age.
The average age of a Vietnam vet is 65 years old. More than 5 million of the nation’s more than 7 million Vietnam-era veterans are between 60 and 70 years old, according to data from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.
An additional 1 million are expected to turn 60 within the next five years.
“A lot of people coped with the traumatic experiences in war by throwing themselves into work when they got home,” said Tom Berger, director of the health council at Vietnam Veterans of America. “Now, after being a workaholic for 40 years, they suddenly don’t have that structure in their life anymore. I expect there will be more and more folks seeking out help for those issues.
October 19-21,2015 In Amsterdam Biomedical Research
Statistics on PTSD in Vietnam Veterans
1. 15.2% of male veterans and 8.5% of female veterans meet the definitions of suffering from current PTSD from actions taken or experienced in the theater of war.
2. Those with high levels of war-zone exposure had significantly higher rates, with 35.8% of men and 17.5% of women meeting criteria for current PTSD.
3 Rates of PTSD are consistently higher for Vietnam theater Veterans than for Vietnam era Veterans and civilians.
2. Those with high levels of war-zone exposure had significantly higher rates, with 35.8% of men and 17.5% of women meeting criteria for current PTSD.
3 Rates of PTSD are consistently higher for Vietnam theater Veterans than for Vietnam era Veterans and civilians.
4. 80%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD up to 25 years ago and are still experiencing symptoms from it.
5. Vietnam theater veterans with high levels of war-zone exposure are significantly more likely than those with low exposure to develop the psychological disorders.
6. For men, family instability, childhood antisocial behavior, and a younger age at entry to the war predicted total PTSD.
7. PTSD in women was largely influenced by family instability.
8. 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served in the war and 3 out of 4 of them say that they would go back and serve again, even though they know the outcome of the war.
9. The percentage of Vietnam veterans who were unable to transition successfully back into public life after the war: 15%.
10. 87% of the American people hold Vietnam veterans in high esteem.
11. Two-thirds of those who served in Vietnam were volunteers. The same percentage of soldiers were drafted in order to serve in World War II.
12. 97% of Vietnam veterans were discharged under honorable conditions, which is equal to other discharge circumstances from other wars with which the US was involved.
13. Vietnam veterans are 3x more likely to be suffering from PTSD than veterans of the Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.
14. The total number of veterans from Vietnam that have been diagnosed with PTSD after their service: 479,610.
15. Almost 50% of all male Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD have been arrested or in jail at least once since their service.
16. 11.5%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam vets that have been charged with a felony after their service.
17. VA statistics in 2004 showed that 161,000 veterans were still receiving disability compensation for PTSD.
18. Up to 31% of men and 27% of women had suffered from PTSD at some point in time after their return from Vietnam.
19. More than 5 million of the nation’s more than 7 million Vietnam-era veterans are between 60 and 70 years old. Retirement is expected to bring a whole new wave of PTSD diagnosis to the Vietnam veterans as those who threw themselves into a career after the war now suddenly have nothing but time on their hands.
20. The total number of Vietnam veterans who have been executed for crimes they have committed since the war: 6 [including Brannan]
6. For men, family instability, childhood antisocial behavior, and a younger age at entry to the war predicted total PTSD.
7. PTSD in women was largely influenced by family instability.
8. 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served in the war and 3 out of 4 of them say that they would go back and serve again, even though they know the outcome of the war.
9. The percentage of Vietnam veterans who were unable to transition successfully back into public life after the war: 15%.
10. 87% of the American people hold Vietnam veterans in high esteem.
11. Two-thirds of those who served in Vietnam were volunteers. The same percentage of soldiers were drafted in order to serve in World War II.
12. 97% of Vietnam veterans were discharged under honorable conditions, which is equal to other discharge circumstances from other wars with which the US was involved.
13. Vietnam veterans are 3x more likely to be suffering from PTSD than veterans of the Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.
14. The total number of veterans from Vietnam that have been diagnosed with PTSD after their service: 479,610.
15. Almost 50% of all male Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD have been arrested or in jail at least once since their service.
16. 11.5%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam vets that have been charged with a felony after their service.
17. VA statistics in 2004 showed that 161,000 veterans were still receiving disability compensation for PTSD.
18. Up to 31% of men and 27% of women had suffered from PTSD at some point in time after their return from Vietnam.
19. More than 5 million of the nation’s more than 7 million Vietnam-era veterans are between 60 and 70 years old. Retirement is expected to bring a whole new wave of PTSD diagnosis to the Vietnam veterans as those who threw themselves into a career after the war now suddenly have nothing but time on their hands.
20. The total number of Vietnam veterans who have been executed for crimes they have committed since the war: 6 [including Brannan]
Agent Orange exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Levy CJ1.
Abstract
- PMID:
- 2965215
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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