Dr David Crompton, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Queensland, is helping to break new ground in the treatment of Vietnam veterans suffering war-related trauma.
Last May Dr Crompton, a senior clinical lecturer and director of the University's stress and trauma research unit, established Australia's first day-patient program treating war veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He said Australia sent more than 50,000 men and women to Vietnam. Stress disorder was found in up to 30 percent of those who served in the front line and up to 10 percent of veterans who served in other areas.
'We all have a finite coping capacity but why some people suffer PTSD and others do not, we do not exactly know,' Dr Crompton said.
He said in some people PTSD was soon apparent while with others it might come to the surface only as they grew older, perhaps triggered by some other major problem or life crisis.
The symptoms were many and varied but included panic attacks sparked by events such as a helicopter flying overhead or a car back-firing. Veterans may experience nightmares, recurrent thoughts of the war and extreme anxiety.
Dr Crompton said 30 to 40 percent may have depressive problems or experience irritability. A 'significant number' had problems with alcohol as a consequence of their stress disorder, and many were experiencing marital problems.
'They find it hard to express emotions and may detach themselves emotionally from their children or other people, and as a result find it difficult to become close to others.'
Dr Crompton, director of the free treatment program, said it was already producing encouraging results less than a year after being set up at the Dixon Street Clinic in the Pine Rivers Shire.
'The main focus of this program is the treatment of people to improve their quality of life and relieve their symptoms,' he said.
'The program has been attended by 43 people so far and many of them have shown improvement.
'In many cases their relationships have improved, anxiety is down, they are less depressed, dependence on alcohol is diminished. Some who were not working are back at work, others who thought of quitting their jobs have decided against it.'
Eleven such programs are operating around the country, most following American models and focusing on in-patients. Others are a mix of resident and out-patients though one in New South Wales has also started offering a program just for out-patients.
Programs must be approved by the National Centre for War Related Trauma, in Melbourne, and attendance by eligible veterans is funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Dr Crompton said funding for this and other similar programs was reviewed annually.
He said five groups of between seven and nine veterans, plus their partners, from as far afield as Darwin, had gone through the program. Most had been in Vietnam though one was a veteran of World War 2.
They visit the clinic four days a week for six weeks and then once a week for another six weeks, a total of 160 hours of treatment. During the group sessions the objective and subjective assessments of their progress are carried out at six, 12 and 24 months.
Five other staff - a psychologist, a social worker, an administrative officer and two nurses, plus counsellors - work with Dr Crompton in the program which also has a separate component for the partners of PTSD sufferers.
The program aims to help participants cope with the impact and effects of PTSD. It includes sessions such as stress and anger management, overcoming sleep disorders, exercise and nutrition, relaxation training and ways of improving communication skills.
Anxiety problems, which may prevent veterans enjoying normal social activities such as shopping or going to the movies, are addressed during practical exercises, and attention is paid to ways of managing substance or alcohol abuse.
Dr Crompton said he was in no doubt about the ongoing need for PTSD treatment programs for war veterans. Not just from Vietnam but from other conflicts, such as World War 2, Korea, Malaya and a range of UN peacekeeping forces in which Australians were involved.
For further details, contact Dr David Crompton (telephone 3881 2377).
