Abstract
This reply focuses on the two main areas of Dr Boman's critique. First, his interpretation of additional literature not cited in the original review is discussed. I would argue that most of this literature is retrospective and involves unsophisticated analyses: causal interpretations are not easily supported by the studies he cites. Secondly, conclusions based on the clinical evidence of the ‘Smith’ case are also poorly founded; this is discussed in some detail with some attention given to the severity of the war related stressor and the time and nature of the patient's emotional response to it.