Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jan 24.
Published in final edited form as: Cortex. 2015 Sep 25;74:449–475. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2015.08.022

Table 3.

Studies reporting on psychiatric and psychological disorders in Gulf War veterans.

Study Groups studied Outcome(s) Key findings
Vogt et al., 2008 81 active duty GWV and 230 NG/R GWV DRRI, PTSS High PT and DLWE scores on the DRRI and PTSS were significantly stronger for active duty women and NG/R men.
Woodward et al., 2009 50 PTSD+ (13 GWV and 37 VV) and 47 PTSD− (23 GWV and 24 VV) Cortical volume measured using MRI Subjects with combat-related PTSD showed significantly smaller cerebral cortical volume, thickness and area compared to PTSD-controls.
Yehuda et al., 2010 12 PTSD + GWV and 9 PTSD-GWV Plasma ACTH changes, declarative memory, MRI, PET, DST PTSD + group showed significantly greater cortisol and ACTH suppression. Hippocampal volume difference and greater hippocampal metabolic activity seen in PTSD + GWV. No memory differences were seen.
Apfel et al., 2011 82 GWV with lifetime PTSD, 44 GWV with current PTSD, 38 GWV with MDD, 80 PTSD-GWV Hippocampal volume measured using MRI GWV with chronic PTSD had smaller hippocampal volume than GWV without current PTSD. Current PTSD symptoms were associated with significantly reduced hippocampal volume.
Coughlin et al., 2011 6,111 deployed GWV, 3,859 nondeployed veterans Alcohol use, PTSD, MDD Problem drinking was significantly and positively associated with PTSD and MDD
Gade & Wenger, 2011 1035 GWV, 3452 VV MCS Exposure to war casualties but not combat overall was associated with mental health decline. Negative effects of combat were larger for GWV compared to VV.
Hassija et al., 2012 87 GWV and 43 OIF/OEF veterans PSS, DSS, alcohol misuse Combat exposure was significantly associated with PSS, DSS and alcohol misuse.
Wachen et al., 2013 317 GWV PSS, PCL, PHS Significant associations between post-deployment physical health and PSS in all symptom categories. PSS score was more strongly related to physical health for subjects with lower warzone exposures, but also significant for high warzone exposures.

Abbreviations: GWV = Gulf War veterans; MDD = major depressive disorder; PTSD = post-traumatic stress disorder; PTSD+ = meets the criteria for current PTSD resulting from one or more military trauma; PTSD− = did not meet criteria for PTSD, either current or lifetime; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; MSI = multisymptom illness; MCS = Mental Component Summary; VV = Vietnam veterans; OEF = Operation Enduring Freedom; OIF = Operation Iraqi Freedom, PSS = post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity; DSS = depressive symptom severity; PTSS = post-traumatic stress symptomatology; DRRI = Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory; PT = perceived threat; DLWE = difficult living and working environment; NG/R = National Guard/Reserve; PCL = Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist; PHS = physical health symptoms; ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; PET = positron emission tomography; DST = dexamethasone suppression test.

(Table adapted from RACGWVI, 2014).