Justice delayed: acknowledging the reality of Gulf War illness.

摘要

Combat in the first war in the Persian Gulf lasted only a few weeks. But for more than 174 000 US veterans and 6000-12 000 UK soldiers, its effects have never ended. More than 17 years afterthe 1990-91 invasion of Kuwait, a Congressionally mandated group has concluded that Gulf War syndrome is a real, serious, and, in many cases, deadly illness.The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, with support from the Boston University School of Public Health, issued a 450-page report on Nov 17. The report repudiates previousdeterminationsthat Gulf War illness isfictitious, a psychiatric disorder, or stress-related. Ironically, the report found that these veterans actually have lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than veterans of other wars.