Resource Tag: VIETNAM

Vietnam vetrans recruited from 3 sources were assessed for suicidal thinking & behaviours, & symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder & depression. Findings support the notion that suicidal thoughts are prevalent in this group, with veterans in psychotherapy reporting a greater likelihood of such symptoms (82.6%), than veterans in the community (35.7%), or those seeking assistance […]

In this article, the author recounts his experiences as a nurse in Vietnam, & his subsequent repression of these events because no one wanted to discuss the Vietnam conflict. This repression led to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychological & behavioural responses to this disorder are outlined as are steps in recovery. […]

Art therapy is the use of art, music, poetry & psychodrama (produced by the client), which act as a vehicle for self-expression, healing & self-actualization. This article describes the therapeutic process; 2 tables illustrate a sample care plan & the role of nurses & art therapists & areas where they might collaborate. The case of […]

3 hypotheses about symptoms of war-related posttraumatic stress disorder & general psychiatric disorder were tested among a sample 5,138 war zone veterans. All 3 hypotheses were supported significantly. With respect to suicidality, the Vietnam cohort accounted for 5 of 9 significant measures when age, education & medical condition were controlled for. A surprising finding was […]

The relationships of four roles that veterans could have played in the initiation of death & injury, namely, target, observer, agent & failure, to current symptomatology were examined in combination with a set of objective measures of war zone stressors. Results show that having been an agent of killing & having been a failure at […]

This study aimed to identify predictors of suicidality among Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 19 of the 100 veterans had made a postservice suicide attempt, & 15 more had been preoccupied with suicide since the war. The most significant factors related to suicide attempts were: guilt about combat actions, survivor guilt, depression, […]

This study examined the mortality rates of 11,325 Vietnam veterans who died between 1982-84, & 50,743 veterans from a previous analysis who died between 1965-82. Unlike earlier studies, the authors did not find an increased risk of suicide among Vietnam veterans compared with non-Vietnam veterans. They did discover higher rates of death from external causes, […]

Examined potential risk factors for suicide from records of 175 Vietnam vets (VVs) or non-VVs who committed suicide or died from motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). Characteristics of the 2 groups were not substantially different with respect to known demographic risk factors & psychological profiles were also similar. Symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder were observed […]

Compared mortality rates for all draft-eligible vs all draft-exempt men of the Vietnam era. Results established a cause & effect relationship btwn draft eligibility & death by suicide or traffic accidents. The elevated suicide rate appeared to persist until at least 13 yrs after the draft. Results corroborate prev. findings of increased psychological problems among […]

44 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from WWII & Vietnam were compared. Groups were comparable on age of onset of PTSD. Vietnam veterans exhibited more severe PTSD symptoms, scored higher on other scales, had more survivor guilt & suicidal tendencies. Differences were noted as to the nature of upsetting experiences. Vietnam veterans had a […]

Presents a brief nostalgic picture of a Christmas visit by Bob Hope to a naval hospital ship during the Viet nam war. Later the same day, a young soldier takes his own life.

Following a brief discussion of specific dynamics leading to youthful self-destruction, the author examines whether these factors apply to the Vietnam veteran. Suggests that drug use may be an attempt to handle the complex feelings generated by war experiences & notes that drug abuse may be a form of chronic suicide for veterans.

This is the second edition of a suicide prevention & intervention manual providing background information about self destructive behavior & epidemiological statistics for both civilian & military populations. Programs for crisis intervention & suicide prevention are presented in detail. (NBB)

For the career officer, war is an opportunity and he cannot, by necessity, be overly concerned with the expenditure of lives states the author, a veteran of the Vietnam war. He describes both atrocities committed by military personnel and acts of altruistic suicide. (NBB)

A 1979 survey by a Denver, Colorado, psychologist concluded that more Vietnam veterans had died by their own hand than in combat (58 022). Although the Veterans’ Administration office questions this conclusion, other US studies indicate that Vietnam veterans have a higher incidence of suicide, motor vehicle accidents, & death from other violent causes than […]

Data derived from interviews with survivors & inspection of public records are employed to arrive at conclusions about the death motivation of the deceased person just prior to his demise. In applying this technique to the study of the death of a famous person, problems emerged that uniquely illustrated its strengths and weaknesses. The equivocal […]

An overwhelming majority of the self-immolations throughout the world in the last decade were political acts. More than 1/3 were committed by Buddists, for whom the act is a deed of supreme sacrifice. Several cases, from different countries, are presented & motivations in each case are discussed. 12 refs.

This presentation depicts aspects of Vietnamese culture & an overview of their concepts of health & disease. The author discusses various types of mental disorders & how they would be manifested in Vietnamese patients. A list of resources for the clinician is included. (note: this is a summary of a presentation to the AAS conference […]

Suicide statistics for 15-24 year-old white males are examined. The peak in suicide rates for this group in 1977 is explored in the social & psychological context of the Vietnam War, when there was a 26% increase in suicide among 20-24 year-old males. Studies of suicide attempts of high school students revealed a 62.5% rate […]