Posttraumatic stress, psychological morbidity, pychopathology, family functioning, and quality of life in Portuguese war veterans.

Abstract

Thirty-four years after the end of Colonial War, few data are available on the impact of such experience on Portuguese veterans. The purpose of the present study was to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological morbidity, psychopathology, family functioning, and quality of life in veterans with and without PTSD diagnosis, to find the best predictors of quality of life and to analyse psychopathology as a mediator in the relationship between traumatic symptoms and quality of life. A total of 101 male veterans participated in the study. Veterans were recruited from a central hospital and a veterans organization. The instruments used were the Portuguese versions of Posttraumatic Stress Scale (McIntyre & Ventura), FACES III (Olson, Portner, & Lavee), BSI (Derogatis), BDI (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh), STAI (Spielberger, Gorush, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs), and Quality of Life (WHOQOL Group). Results showed quality of life to be significantly related to less depression and anxiety. Vet...