The aim of this questionnaire-study was to interview former German refugees about their recollection of traumatic experiences and to screen for present symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-C), comorbid symptoms (SCL-90-R) and coping style (FAPK 3; SOC). 269 individuals (76 % women) participated in the study, on average they were 69 years old (SD: 6) and had been 15 years old during the flight at the end of world war II. 62 % suffered from intrusive symptoms; 5 % met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and further 25 % for partial PTSD. Compared to less disturbed individuals participants with (full or partial) PTSD reported significantly more often on multiple traumatization, comorbid symptoms, deficiencies of emotional competence and lower sense of coherence. Although there were no differences between men and women regarding their accounts on the frequency and the subjective intensity of the experienced traumata, the female participants reported significantly more often about PTSD-symptoms.

posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees Victims of old age Coping World War II

male symptomatology female war major clinical study Germany coping behavior stress Aged refugee Article human adult comorbidity posttraumatic stress disorder