Medical and Psychiatric Treatment Policy and Practice in Vietnam

Initially contributing to the lowest incidence ever of United States combat psychiatric casualties (12/1000 per year), the preventive and treatment policies of immediacy, expectancy, simplicity, and centrality were established early in the Vietnam conflict. These policies are described, as well as a chronological view of the types of psychiatric problems encountered and a brief consideration of the “disorders of loneliness” (alcohol, drug abuse, venereal diseases). Combat versus support troop casualties are contrasted, especially in terms of the changing role of United States troops with the Vietnamization policy and withdrawal. The drug abuse epidemic revealed the inadequacy of traditional approaches and the need for developing new approaches, especially primary preventive methods.