The Effect of War Related PTSD on Wife's Marital Satisfaction, Mental Health and Children's Behavioral Problems

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of combat related PTSD in Iran-Iraq imposed war on mental health, marital satisfaction, and children's behavioral problems. In this retrospective study, 270 subjects were selected from three groups of combat related PTSD veterans, non PTSD veterans and normal groups. Each group consists of 90 subjects who were PTSD victims’ wife and child. They were matched for age, education and socio-economic status. Three questionnaires including GHO-28, CPRS-48, and ENRICH-48 were used. Findings showed that PTSD patients’ wives had significantly more behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms and social dysfunctions than normal population. PTSD patients’ children also had more behavioral problems such as anxiety, learning disorders, impulsive – hyperactivity and conductive problems than normal population. our findings suggest that in accordance with previous studies, war related PTSD not only affects veterans but also affects their whole family.