Delayed and chronic symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been documented in Vietnam veterans for up to 10-15 years following the stressor and in veterans of World War II and Korea for as long as 40 years. Group therapy for Vietnam veterans with PTSD has been found to be an effective treatment, but prior research has not tested whether this model is applicable to those with more long-lasting reactions. To examine this issue, approximately 60 elderly veterans who were referred from various sites in the Palo Alto, California, Veterans Administration Medical Center were screened. Subjects (N=27) diagnosed as having PTSD were accepted into one of three therapy groups. Each group held approximately 20 sessions and developed a similar progression in which the men gradually became able to share painful memories and emotions, and then to integrate these experiences into their lives. Objective follow-up measures of PTSD symptoms (Impact of Event Scale and Post-traumatic Stress Scale) conducted prior to treatment, at the completion of treatment, and again 1-2 years later showed that those who completed treatment exhibited a decrease in their levels of symptomatology, while those who dropped out of treatment showed no change. However, the number of group members who completed treatment and were available for follow-up was small (N=7), as was the number of non-completers (N=7), and this data did not reach statistical significance. Further research is indicated in the area of long-term stress reactions, and the utility of group treatment for those with chronic PTSD. (Author/NB)