A 3-year prospective study of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Israeli combat veterans

This study attempted to trace the long-term psychiatric sequelae of combat in a large representative sample of combat stress reaction (CSR) Israeli casualties and matched controls. Employing DSM-III criteria for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subjects were assessed 1, 2, and 3 years after their participation in the war. Results show that CSR casualties had dramatically higher rates of PTSD than controls at all three points of time. In both groups a decline in prevalence and breadth of PTSD was observed over time. The passage of time had a differential effect on the symptom profile of the CSR casualties and controls. Theoretical, methodological, and treatment implications are discussed.