Problems in families of male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

TLDR

The study interviewed 1,200 male Vietnam veterans and 376 of their spouses, using veteran questionnaires to assess PTSD and family, marital, parenting, and violence issues, and spouse questionnaires to evaluate their perspectives, mental health, substance use, and children’s behavior. Veterans with current PTSD had markedly higher levels of severe marital and family adjustment problems, parenting difficulties, and violent behavior than veterans without PTSD, underscoring significant clinical implications.

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 male Vietnam veterans and the spouses or co-resident partners of 376 of these veterans. The veteran interview contained questions to determine the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and items tapping family and marital adjustment, parenting problems, and violence. The spouse or partner (S/P) interview assessed the S/P's view of these items, as well as her view of her own mental health, drug, and alcohol problems and behavioral problems of school-aged children living at home. Compared with families of male veterans without current PTSD, families of male veterans with current PTSD showed markedly elevated levels of severe and diffuse problems in marital and family adjustment, in parenting skills, and in violent behavior. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.