Enduring Casualties of War: Delayed Treatment of Combat Stress in World War II Veterans

Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an issue facing veterans today, from the soldiers returning from Iraq to those who fought in previous wars. Although this may seem like a contemporary issue, the discussion occurring now is a reaction to a time when PTSD was ignored. Although behavioral changes in combat veterans were noticed for centuries, initially no resources were available and later psychiatric treatment carried a stigma. The effects of PTSD on soldiers became increasingly clear as the Iraq War progressed; however, as veterans of previous wars are aging the issues surrounding misdiagnosed or untreated psychological disorders are becoming known.