The problem of what psychological and physical effects can be expected to remain or to appear over time as a result of the captivity experience is addressed. A review of the existing literature is presented in order to delineate the major findings which seem to be relevant in dealing with the long-term effects to be expected among prisoners of war returned from Southeast Asia. The cumulative weight of the findings, largely gathered from existing follow-up studies of concentration camp survivors, indicated that the extraordinary stresses of incarceration are related to a heightened vulnerability to physical and psychological problems over time. The need for more comprehensive and definitive long-term follow-up studies of former U.S. prisoner populations is discussed.