Self-perceived social support in Croatian war veterans suffering from combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder -- what should not have happened.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between self-perceived social support and chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study included 262 male war veterans suffering from chronic PTSD. Their diagnosis was confirmed according to DSM-IV-TR. They were given self-reported measures Trauma Symptom Inventory-A and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. No significant correlation was found between peer and family support and PTSD. The authors hypothesize this might be the result of secondary victimization, traumatization, and enduring personality changes during the course of PTSD. The items evaluating satisfaction with health care and state institutional support were correlated with most of the PTSD symptoms indicating the possible importance of improving institutional policies toward this population.