Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Risk of Dementia Among US Veterans

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Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric syndrome associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality and is one of the most common sequelae in veterans returning from combat. Among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the prevalence of PTSD has been estimated as 17%.1 In addition, PTSD can be a chronic condition. Vietnam veterans have been found to have a 20% to 30% lifetime prevalence of combat-related PTSD, and 10% to 15% had the disorder 15 years or longer after returning from Vietnam.2,3 A study of older World War II and Korean veterans found that the PTSD prevalence remained as high as 12% even 45 years after combat.4