OBJECTIVE: The authors explored whether individuals who participated in
the recovery of war dead were more likely to experience later symptoms of
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than were individuals who were not
involved in the recovery of war dead. METHOD: PTSD symptoms were assessed
by questionnaire in men and women who had or had not handled human remains
during the Persian Gulf War: 116 men and women who had and 118 who had not
handled human remains participated in the study 3-5 months after returning
from the war; 55 of the subjects who had and 56 of those who had not
handled human remains participated in a follow-up assessment 13-15 months
after their return. RESULTS: Subjects who had been involved in the recovery
of war dead had significantly higher symptom levels than comparison
subjects at both time points. CONCLUSIONS: After more than 1 year,
individuals who had handled human remains during wartime were at higher
risk for PTSD symptoms than those who had not.Abstract Teaser