Twenty-five combat veterans hospitalized for treatment of posttraumatic
stress disorder were evaluated for the presence of other disorders.
Fourteen patients (56%) met operationally defined criteria for one
additional diagnosis, five (20%) for two additional diagnoses, and two (8%)
for three additional diagnoses. The coexisting syndromes included
alcoholism, drug dependence, antisocial personality disorder, somatization
disorder, endogenous depression, and organic mental syndrome. The authors
caution that neither the stress disorder nor the coexisting syndrome should
be considered the primary condition; clinicians should screen patients with
stress disorders for other conditions and treat them when possible.Abstract Teaser