Combat Trauma

October 6, 2010

Combat veterans know some scars just don’t heal. Now a new study of World War Two vets shows that some men exposed to heavy combat at a young age felt symptoms of anxiety and depression well into their eighties.

Researchers from the University of Florida say those findings could prove ominous for the current generation of combat soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Results show in cases where combat stress at a young age may have stunted psychological or social development, the physical and mental well being of those soldiers proved much worse than other veterans.

Monika Ardelt/UF psychology researcher: “They were the most depressed, the most anxious, the ones who had the most trouble adjusting to old age and also had the lowest scores on wisdom at midlife and old age.”

The study tracked a group of Harvard graduates who joined the war effort. Few admitted to seeking treatment for what’s now called “post-traumatic stress,” yet they likely had the socio-economic means to do so. Experts say not all modern day combat veterans may have the means to seek help.

Monika Ardelt/UF psychology researcher: “We know that many of them suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and the problem is, what I’m concerned about, is if they don’t get treatment, if we don’t help them deal with this, this will not be a short term problem, this will be a long term problem that they might suffer from those consequences for many years to come.”

But there’s hope; some World War Two veterans reported stress-related growth at middle age, feeling wiser, gentler and more accepting as they got older as a result of their combat experience.