Relationship of numbing to alexithymia, apathy, and depression.

The present study assessed the relationship between numbing and three associated conditions of alexithymia, apathy, and depression, utilizing data collected on 353 Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from in- and out-patient settings and an outreach center at various Department of Veterans Affairs Medical centers. All subjects completed four self-report measures: the Glover Numbing Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Apathy Evaluation Scale, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. The correlation matrix indicated that scores on the four measures were moderately to highly correlated. Principal components analysis with a varimax rotation indicated a five-factor solution that provided evidence for the factorial validity of each of the constructs assessed. Results of the factor analysis of items from the four measures were consistent with numbing being a separate and distinct construct from alexithymia, apathy, and depression. In general, results indicated that all constructs measured were separate and distinct from one another.

Vulnerability Scale: a preliminary report of psychometric properties.

This work describes assessment of the psychometric properties of a self-report instrument, the Glover Vulnerability Scale. This scale was administered to a total of 11 groups (N = 695). Six of the groups were Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed as having Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (n = 531). The estimate of internal consistency was .88; the test-retest correlation over 4 wk. was .81. Convergent and discriminant validations were satisfactory based on the pattern of the scale's correlations with relevant MMPI subscales and demographic data. Scale scores also discriminated levels of functioning within the population diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and discriminated veterans diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from patients with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Principal component factor analysis gave a 4-factor solution: social comfort, vulnerability, paranoia, and family trust. Over-all, the findings strongly support the clinical application of the Vulnerability Scale.

The Numbing Scale: psychometric properties, a preliminary report.

This study explored the psychometric properties of a new self-report instrument, The Glover Numbing Scale. The scale measures a variety of behaviors reported by individuals experiencing an inability to access feelings other than hostility and rage. The scale was administered to inpatient Vietnam combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, n = 323), PTSD diagnosed Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient and veterans' outreach center veterans (n = 208), two Vietnam veteran noncombat groups (n = 45), two psychiatric noncombat controls (anxiety disorder, n = 40; major depressive disorder, n = 31), and a nonpsychiatric never-in-Vietnam veteran control group (n = 48). Reliability information suggested that the scale was internally consistent with good test-retest correlations. Convergent and discriminant validations were assessed based on the pattern of the scale's correlations with relevant Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales. The contrasting pattern of correlations provided by a subgroup of veterans who reported always feeling dead or shut down was highlighted. Principal component analysis resulted in a five factor solution that provided evidence for the scale's factorial validity. Numbing Scale scores discriminated levels of psychopathology within the veteran population. PTSD outreach center veterans' sum scores and item scores on the Numbing Scale were more similar to responses of anxiety disorder patients than to major depressive disorder patients. Overall, the findings strongly support the clinical application of the Numbing Scale.

Combat and personality change.

In response to combat, some soldiers develop a feeling of satisfaction in killing. The authors label this reaction the "heart of darkness experience," after the story by Joseph Conrad (1903/1982). They describe their clinical experience of seeing this response as part of a spectrum of reactions ranging from no personality change to rather gross personality change. After exploring psychological factors involved in this change, they suggest relevant treatment considerations.

The love of war: Vietnam and the traumatized veteran.

Many veterans treated for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) keep alive their war experiences because of their significance and meaning. For these veterans, combat was a positive as well as a negative experience. The authors suggest that many veterans suffer from PTSD because they are continuing to live out their war experiences and to hold onto the meaning of these experiences. Effective treatment requires these veterans to develop a competent peacetime self that incorporates the positive features of the warrior identity.

MMPI configural interpretation as applied to posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.

This study investigated the systems of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) configural interpretation of Skinner and Jackson (1978) and Kunce (1979) with Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MMPI profiles of four groups differing in combat exposure were compared on four MMPI configural variables from Kunce (1979) and Skinner and Jackson (1978). The four groups were (a) PTSD sufferers, (b) Vietnam combat veterans without PTSD, (c) Vietnam noncombat veterans, and (d) Vietnam era veterans. All groups were further divided into hospitalized versus nonhospitalized subgroups. Dependent variables were Skinner and Jackson's (a) sociopathic modal profile, (b) neurotic profile, (c) psychotic profile, and (d) Kunce's emotional expression (enthusiastic-reserved) dimension. Results indicated that hospitalized PTSD subjects had significantly higher scores on Skinner and Jackson's neurotic profile; both hospitalized and nonhospitalized PTSD subjects had higher scores on the psychotic profile and were more "reserved" on Kunce's emotional expression dimension. Results were interpreted in terms of configural MMPI interpretation systems and the adjustment of Vietnam veterans with PTSD. PTSD was viewed as exhibiting cognitive, somatic, and affective features.

A study of post traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.

Three groups of Vietnam-era veterans were compared on the frequency of symptoms typical of the diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a diagnostic category introduced in DSM III (N = 90). The three groups consisted of veterans who had experienced (a) a war-related traumatic event; (b) a non-war-related traumatic event; or (c) no traumatic event. The results indicated that the two groups who experienced a traumatic event reported significantly more symptoms than the group who never experienced a traumatic event. Furthermore, the group who experienced a war-related traumatic event reported more symptoms than the group who experienced a non-war-related traumatic event. These results support the validity of PTSD.