Richard McNally on PTSD rates in Vietnam Veterans

Harvard psychology professor Richard McNally gives his analysis arguing that PTSD rates in Vietnam veterans were overstated, both in the seminal1990 study of those rates, the 1990 National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, and a 2006 reanalysis published in Science by Columbia University epidemiologist Bruce Dohrenwend. The lecture was presented in a special symposium at the shown at the 2006 meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies,

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• PTSD
• Vietnam veterans
• Richard McNally
• Bruce Dohrenwend
• David Dobbs
• PTSD controversy

[Rainman7107]

I served as an Infantry Platoon Squad Leader in Vietnam, and I still get goose bumps down my back when a Huey Helicopter flys near, and I think of the Events that occurred in Vietnam almost every day. Ill Bet Richard McNally never served in a Combat Unit, under Fire at age19, or locked and loaded an M-16 to defend himself during a night ambush in the middle of the Jungle. Statistics can never explain what Combat does to a Man. those who came back live with the memories. This Mans Ideas suck.

[TheLaNadine]

i love mcnally! i had him for a summer seminar at harvard almost two summers ago. it was great i learnt so much! and he told us great stories about dogs and wieners.

[davieb769]

your hand movements are very distracting

[imback4thcav]

Well, you guys said that 12 months would not hurt a combat vet! I served 18 months on a Helicopter Gunship, but that was ok cause I got a 30 Day leave after the 12! Had it not been for the 2 Air metals with "V", I would have not gotten any help!

So most of that is BULL!

[artifishal]

I made $165 a month after being forced to go to a war everyone hated ME for! When I came back I stared at a wall for 5 years. I'm 62 now and all my friends from back then are rich as they went to school or started businesses while I still live in a trailer. I've had 35 different jobs, and a dozen other things I won't talk about. I never applied for PTSD compensation but they need to send me 6 million dollars like yesterday!

[cray4348]

I know many Vietnam vets who suffer from PTSD, myself included. All I know is that you didn't need to be in direct combat to come home with major mental issues.

I disagree totally with what McNally says.