Suicidal behavior among chronic Vietnam theatre veterans with PTSD.

Suicidal behavior among Vietnam veterans with chronic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was evaluated. Sixty chronic PTSD vets admitted to a Specialized PTSD Unit were divided into two groups based on the presence of suicidal behavior: 29 patients in a Suicide Group and 31 in a Non-suicide Group. Subjects were evaluated on symptoms, psychometric measures, military variables, adjustment factors, and pre-military parental patterns of discipline. Results showed that the Suicide Group possessed problems in paternal child-rearing patterns, current adjustment difficulties, and the PTSD symptoms of survival guilt and crying. In a regression analysis, paternal inconsistency of love, survivor guilt, and tendency to cry, in addition to age and sex, accounted for the significant variance of suicidal behavior.