This study is ongoing.

Neuropsychological Functioning
VAMC New Orleans, LA.
Study to investigate neuropsychological functioning, especially attention, learning, and memory processes, of vets with PTSD and comparing them to vets without PTSD.  Study results complete.

Psychological Assessment
VAMC New Orleans, LA.
Study to conduct comprehensive psychological assessments and debriefings.  Studies have been published and are ongoing.

Neurobehavioral Aspects
VAMC Pittsburgh (HD), PA.
Study to obtain neurobehavioral data on 50 vets known to have had toxic exposures and compare to the expected cognitive and physiological deficits found in victims of chronic organic solvent exposures.  Results of Phase I should be complete.

Vets with Embedded Depleted Uranium Fragments
VAMC Baltimore, MD, Army Center for Health Promotion, Aberdeen, MD, University of Maryland, and EPA Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, NV.
Study to conduct clinical follow-up of vets with embedded DU fragments and assess health risks.  This is an ongoing study.  Although the monitoring of veterans with DU fragments is not officially recognized as a "research project", recently released documents indicate a major purpose of monitoring these veterans is to determine the long term health effects of internalized DU on humans.

Vaccine Mediated Immunity Against Leishmania
VAMC Cleveland, OH
Study to understand mechanisms responsible for curative and counterproductive responses during leishmania infection.  Studies have been published.

Protective Immunity in Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis

VAMC San Antonio, TX.
Study to characterize the mechanisms in protective immunity and identify vaccine candidate antigens.  This is an ongoing study.

Immunological Evaluation
VAMC Birmingham, AL.
Study to evaluate potential changes in the immunological status of vets.  Study should be complete.

Chronic Gastrointestinal Illness
VAMC Boston, MA

Study to determine if there is significant difference in chronic gastrointestinal symptoms of vets and age-matched controls.  This is an ongoing study.

(Continued from page 12)

The first is a national random health survey of 15,000 Gulf vets compared to 15,000 Gulf-era vets.  The hope is that this survey will determine the prevalence of symptoms and certain health outcomes in veterans and their spouses and children, as well as risk factors possibly associated with these signs and symptoms.  This study will be conducted by mail, with some sampling of respondents by examining medical records and performing physical exams.  The second study is a mortality follow-up study.  Data has been gathered and analyzed.  It seems to show a higher death rate for Gulf vets, but only from accidents and other traumatic causes.  The time period examined was extremely limited.

The VA has four major research centers working on issues related to illnesses among Gulf veterans and several independent studies.  They are as follows:

Boston:  Six projects aimed at determining the health effects of environmental exposures to potential hazardous agents.

New Jersey:  Four projects to gather information about illnesses among Gulf veterans for development of the most characteristic symptoms profiles.

Portland: Four projects to examine the health effects associated with exposure to selected environmental chemical and biological hazards.

Birmingham, AL: Studying how to detect the neurological effects that would be expected after exposure to certain chemical weapons.

Desert Storm Reunion Survey
VAMC Boston, MA.
Study identifies a broad range of combat and non-combat experiences associated with deployment.  Study has published some results and is ongoing.

Initial Contact Interviews with Marine Reservists
VAMC Mountain Home, TN.
Study to provide early intervention, support, and education about combat duty and psychological adjustment to war.  Study has published some results and is ongoing.

Evaluation of Cognitive Functioning in Vets Reporting War-Related Health Problems
VAMC New Orleans, LA.
Study evaluates potential cognitive correlates of health complaints.  Includes psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and neuropsychological function testing.  Results should be complete.

Memory and Attention in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
VAMC New Orleans, LA.
Study to provide in-depth evaluation of attention and memory dysfunction among Vietnam and Gulf vets suffering from PTSD.

Second Edition - Fall 1997          Page 13