A. Favaro et al., Post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression among Italian Nazi concentration camp survivors: a controlled study 50 years later, PSYCHOL MED, 29(1), 1999, pp. 87-95
Background. The study aimed to assess the current and lifetime rates of pos
t-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MDD) among Nazi co
ncentration camps survivors.
Methods. We investigated 51 Italian political deportees and 47 Resistance M
ovement veterans who reported traumatic experiences during active service.
The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was used to assess the presenc
e of PTSD and MDD. The Dissociative Experiences Scale and the shorter versi
on of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist were also administered.
Results. The lifetime rates of PTSD and MDD were 35.3% and 45.1% respective
ly among deportees and 4.3% and 6.4% among former partisans. The current ra
tes for PTSD and MDD were 25.5 % and 33.3 % among deportees and 4.3 % and 4
.3 % among former partisans. Dissociative symptoms were more severe among d
eportees than among Resistance movement veterans.
Conclusions. Concentration camp internment, even for political reasons, app
ears to have severe long-term psychiatric consequences.