Suicidal behavior among chronic vietnam theatre veterans with ptsd

Abstract
Suicidal behavior among Vietnam veterans with chronic Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was evaluated. Sixty chronic PTSD vets admitted to a Specialized PTSD Unit were divided into two groups based on the presence of suicidal behavior: 29 patients in a Suicide Group and 31 in a Non‐suicide Group. Subjects were evaluated on symptoms, psychometric measures, military variables, adjustment factors, and pre‐military parental patterns of discipline. Results showed that the Suicide Group possessed problems in paternal child‐rearing patterns, current adjustment difficulties, and the PTSD symptoms of survival guilt and crying. In a regression analysis, paternal inconsistency of love, survivor guilt, and tendency to cry, in addition to age and sex, accounted for the significant variance of suicidal behavior.