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Report: Focus on Treatment for Gulf War Illness

URMC says it's working to restore access to 2.6 million files that are inaccessible after an IT mishap.
University of Rochester Medical Center
URMC says it's working to restore access to 2.6 million files that are inaccessible after an IT mishap.

A committee led by a University of Rochester professor issues new recommendations about Gulf War Illness research.

Currently, there is ongoing research to determine the exact cause of the illness, with symptoms that include PTSD, anxiety, and drug abuse, as well as muscle and joint pain and chronic fatigue. It's assumed to be caused by some kind of chemical exposure during the Gulf War.

URMC Professor Deborah Cory-Slechta is the head of an Institute of Medicine committee looking at Gulf War Illness research. They issued a report saying there is not enough information about the kind of chemicals that soldiers were exposed to, for how long, or even when or where.

"We don't have that data, we're never going to have that data, and so putting a lot of resources into that, we didn't really feel was a good use of time and effort."

Instead, Cory-Slechta and her team recommend preparing for the future, and starting now to compile that data for new soldiers.

"If this is consistent with what military theater is going to look like in the future, then it's going to be critical for the department of defense to actually get measures of chemical exposures, get baseline in individuals before they deploy, while they're deployed, and when they come back."

For current Gulf War Veterans who exhibit symptoms, Cory-Slechta says researchers should stop pouring resources into finding an exact cause.

"It's really time to focus more on interventions and treatments for these veterans. There is some of that that goes on but more resources could be put into multiple different treatments."

Treatment for Gulf War Illness includes medical treatment for the physical symptoms as well as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Veterans returning from the Gulf War are 33% more likely to suffer from the physical and cognitive problems that characterize Gulf War Illness than veterans from other wars.

Veronica Volk is a senior editor and producer for WXXI News.