Terence M. Keane, PhD For nearly 30 years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has led the scientific study of the effects of war on combatants. Beginning with the development of the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the American Psychiatric Association (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Third Edition) and World Health Organization (International ...

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient costs were analyzed for combat Veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2008. Patients had serious lower-limb injuries (n = 170) or unilateral (n = 460) or bilateral (n = 153) lower-limb amputation(s). Total costs over the follow-up period (2003 to 2012) and annual costs were analyzed. Unadjusted mean costs per year in 2012 U.S. dollar...

Misdiagnosis and under-detection of delirium may occur in many medical settings. This is important to address as delirium clearly increases risk of morbidity and mortality in such settings. This study assessed whether Veterans who screened positive on a delirium severity measure (Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale; MDAS) differed from those with and without corresponding medical documentation o...

perhaps, due to the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) on biological markers of cardiovascular such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, physiological response to reminders of trauma has become an essential part and hallmark of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (fifth edition-dsm-5, american psychiatric association, 2013). ...

This study characterizes those patients of an urban VA Medical Center (VAMC) who had committed suicide. A cause-of-death search of the 1,075 veterans from the VAMC's case rolls who died during 1998 was conducted. For confirmed and suspected suicides, a chart review was conducted, noting psychiatric history and recent contact with the VAMC. Nineteen patients were either confirmed or suspected su...

Man-made traumatic events such as combat and terrorism may cause individuals to develop various forms of psychopathology, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. Veterans who engage in combat experienced negative emotions such as anger, hostility and aggression. Forgiveness may buffer these feelings and prevent the development of psychiatric problems, in that it is a way...

OBJECTIVE To examine the potential effect of 5 existing psychiatric comorbidities on postsurgical mortality. DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING Intensive care units of all Veterans Health Administration hospitals designated as providing acute care. PATIENTS We studied 35 539 surgical patients admitted to intensive care units from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2006. MAIN OUTCO...

A significant portion of veterans who were deployed to the 1990 Gulf War developed Gulf War Illnesses (GWI), which are mainly characterised by persistent muskuloskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive problems (concentration, memory, and attention difficulties), and a large number of other signs and symptoms (1). In addition, Gulf War veterans who developed chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea exh...