Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:310-314
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatric illness in U.S. Air Force Viet Nam prisoners of war: a five- year follow-up
RJ Ursano, JA Boydstun and RD Wheatley
The U.S. Air Force prisoners of war (POWs) experienced a profound degree of
stress during the Viet Nam War. The psychiatric status of this population
has been monitored by an ongoing voluntary follow-up program from the time
of repatriation through the following five years. Data indicate a
significant degree of psychiatric readjustment problems, which were
greatest among POWs captured before 1969. These findings support the
association of an unusually stressful environment with an increased
incidence of psychiatric illness.
