Portuguese Colonial War Veterans’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review

The assessment of combat exposure, mental and physical health problems in Portuguese colonial war veterans: A scoping review.

“…For those who survived, literature has shown that the PCW left deep psychological and physical marks for many PCW veterans. A recent systematic review with 26 eligible studies found that PCW veterans reported a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and associated comorbidities, such as, depression, anxiety, or psychopathological symptoms (Maia & Morgado, 2019a). In addition to the report of mental health problems, another recent systematic review, with 10 eligible studies, indicated that PCW veterans reported several physical health problems related to combat exposure, including physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, fatigue, and sleep problems), chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or endocrine diseases), risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, or drug use), and the need of health services use, such as, the health center, public hospital, or specialized psychiatric or psychological consultations (Maia & Morgado, 2019b).…”