Biomedical subjects
Harry A Lee
Publications and source records attributed to Harry A Lee.
Clinical outcomes of Gulf veterans' medical assessment programme referrals to specialized centers for Gulf veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study sought to ascertain whether referring veterans of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf conflict with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to specialized centers with a knowledge of military culture and the impact of conflict resulted in successful psychotherapeutic outcomes at 1-year follow-up times. A total of 120 referrals to specialist centers were made by general physicians. Of these, 19 were non-PTSD referrals, and 80 patients were confirmed by a psychiatrist as having PTSD. A degree of success in psychotherapeutic interventions for PTSD at 1 year, determined from general practitioner follow-up correspondence, was obtained for 95% of referrals. There were no distinguishing features between successful and unsuccessful outcomes. This study shows that early attention, i.e., diagnosis and treatment by psychiatrists knowledgeable regarding the service environment, can be beneficial for this group.
Length of consultations. Longer consultations can improve patient satisfaction.
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Gulf war syndrome may be post-conflict dysfunction.
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Health status and clinical diagnoses of 3000 UK Gulf War veterans.
Up to June 2001, 3000 British veterans of the Gulf War had sought advice from a special medical assessment programme established because of an alleged Gulf War syndrome. After assessment those attending were classified as completely well, well with symptoms, well with incidental diagnoses treated or controlled, or unwell (physically or mentally). Mental illness was confirmed by a psychiatrist. The first 2000 attenders have been reported previously. The present paper summarizes findings in all 3000. 2252 (75%) of those attending were judged "well", of whom 303 were symptom-free. Medical diagnoses were those to be expected in such an age-group (mean age 34 years, range 21-63). No novel or unusual condition was found. In 604 of the 748 unwell veterans, a substantial element of the illness was psychiatric, the most common condition being post-traumatic stress disorder. The healthcare requirements of the Gulf veterans seen in this programme can therefore be met by standard National Health Service provision.
Results of investigations on Gulf War veterans.
Investigations were undertaken on veterans of the Gulf conflict of 1990/91 at the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP), to determine whether routine investigations should be carried out on these veterans. Blood investigations were analysed of a 10% random sample of veterans and also of two veteran groups--one group was well (asymptomatic) and the other unwell (post-traumatic stress disorder). Neurological investigations were carried out as well as 1,000 ultrasound studies and 3,000 ECGs. Almost all blood tests proved normal. The only significant differences found between the two groups were for the alanine/aspartate transaminase and gamma glutamyl transaminase values, where there were more abnormal findings in the unwell group. Abnormal, but expected, neurological investigations were found in those referred for these tests. Ultrasound abnormalities were related to known established clinical diagnoses, apart from three cases. ECG abnormalities were only present in those with known clinical diagnoses. It was concluded that reducing the number of investigations would not only be cost effective but should help to lessen veterans' anxieties.