Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 13:05:03 -0400
Subject: QUERY: PTSD in Women Vietnam Veterans
From: Molly Myers
I am looking for more information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in women
Vietnam Veterans. I have found three texts that have been of some help and
have included women. The first two mention women or dedicate one chapter of
book to women but don't really go into depth about what women were most
likely to suffer PTSD, what type of treatment was used, when did the VA begin
to accept that women were also affected by PTSD, was there a connection to
the ability of women to work through their trauma and the use of the "buddy
system" for Army nurses? What role did spirituality play in recovering from
the war experience? Did missionary nurses recover or transition more easily
into the "real world" because they identified with a supportive community
when they returned? If any one can help I would appreciate it.
The three books I have are:
"The Trauma of War" and "Trauma and the Vietnam War Generation: Report of
Findings from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study" (1990) Jenny
Schnaier's thesis (1982) on the topic which is a wonderful source.
Molly Myers
Hi, Molly this is Angie from ECU. Did you change your topic from the civilian women? If so, please let me know - I need another horror story! I found a few articles for you.
Penk, W. et al (1987) PTSD: Special monograph supplement. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 43, 3-66.
Schnaier, JA (1982) Women VN Vets and mental health adjustment: a study of their experiences and ptsd. unpublished thesis. univ. of maryland.
Stretch, RH. (1985) PTSD among army nurse corp vt vts. Journal of Counseling and clinical psy. 53, 704-708.
These are a bit dated but still might be able to help.
no i didn't change my topic. i am including all american women in vietnam from military to missionary to correspondents and entertainers but my paper focus has ended up as a call for more research paper. so i am just trying to find hole in research. obviously ptsd has a lot of holes. i knew about two of these but the others were of some help, thank you. it is slow going these days....i'm from atlanta so the world is interrupting my work.
Molly Myers
Here is a suggestion, you may want to go through the USO to see what groups, entertainers were in the war. Record companies may help you with this. Another suggestion is the case of China Beach, many of the characters may have had contact with vets to understand the complexity of the script. Another option is General Jeanne Holm who helped establish the women's Vietnam memorial. She is sure to have contact with many of the women nurse's and others who may have served at this time. Best of luck.
Dorothy H. Mackey
Molly,
Three articles for you on Military Nurses and the war experience, PTSD.
Stanton-Bandiero, M. P. et.al (1996). The War Experience For Nurse Veterans: A Secondary Data Analysis. Journal of Military Nursing and Research. vol 2 no 1, 12 - 17.
Norman, E. M. (1995). After the Casualties: Vietnam Nurses' Identities and Career Decisions. Reprinted in Journal of Military Nursing and Research. vol 1 no 3, 25 - 29.
Norman, E. M. (1995). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Military Nurses Who Served in Vietnam During the War Years 1965-1973. Reprinted in Journal of Military Nursing and Research. vol 1 No 1, 18-22.
Evalyn J. Gossett, RN, MSN
Publisher
JMNR:Journal of Military Nursing and Research
1996 Nurses Calendars
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Chicago, IL 60629-2045
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email:evalyng@aol.com
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