Use of medical and mental health care by World War II survivors in the Netherlands

This study examined the mental and medical health care utilization of World War II (WW II) survivors and the characteristics of survivors seeking prof essional health care. Forty seven years after the end of WW II, a random sa mple of 4,057 Dutch WW II survivors answered a four-page questionnaire; 1,4 61 persons subsequently answered an extensive follow-up questionnaire. Twen ty-two percent had sought some form of health care for war-related complain ts at some time since WW II. Most consultations were made in the 1940s. Mor e consultations were made to general practioners or to medical specialists as opposed to mental health specialists. Although the level of posttraumati c stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was most important for discriminating bet ween help-seeking and non-help-seeking respondents, 59% of the highly-expos ed respondents with PTSD had not sought professional help ill the years 199 0-1992. The results show the importance of primary health care in recognizi ng PTSD symptoms and referring survivors to the appropriate professional he lper.