Three Psychiatric Casualties From Vietnam

Abstract

Three veterans whose psychiatric illnesses were precipitated by events experienced in the Vietnam conflict are briefly described. Two cases have features relatively unique to that war. The first involved the killing of an innocent civilian and of a corporal who ordered the murder, and the second involved the use of drugs that contributed to a tragic combat error. The third case is that of a "classical" war neurosis. In all cases interviews conducted under the influence of sodium amobarbital and methamphetamine were utilized to elicit suppressed memories and affects.