Many types of external trauma have been linked to the genesis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and yet recent reports have focused almost exclusively on PTSD occurring in the Vietnam veteran (PTSD/veteran). The extent to which treatment experiences with PTSD/veteran can be generalized to other traumatized patients, for example, acute civilian populations, has not been investigated. Clinical observations comparing PTSD precipitated by a motor vehicle accident with PTSD/veteran suggested there were major differences between these two groups on the following variables: source of referral, age, sex, socioeconomic level, nature of stressor, timing of the stressor, character of the intrusive and avoidance symptoms, and treatment noncompliance behavior. These differences were of sufficient magnitude to call into question the feasibility, at this time, of constructing generalizations regarding PTSD utilizing only the PTSD/veteran population.

Noncompliance rates for office visits following a psychiatric consultation in a general hospital may be lower than previously reported, although noncompliance is still a significant problem. There is a significant drop-out rate within two follow-up sessions. Few patients entered psychotherapy. Geriatric patients preferred only medication follow-up. The possible reasons for the lower noncompliance rate in this study are discussed.