PPmP Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie
Volume 61, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 233-238

Long-term consequences of flight and expulsion in former refugee children [Langzeitfolgen von in der Kindheit am Ende des II. Weltkrieges erlebter Flucht und Vertreibung] (Article)

Muhtz C.* , Von Alm C. , Godemann K. , Wittekind C. , Jelinek L. , Yassouridis A. , Kellner M.
  • a Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
  • b Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
  • c Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
  • d Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
  • e Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
  • f Max Planck Institute für Psychiatrie, München, Germany
  • g Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

Abstract

Little is known about long-term consequences of flight and expulsion during childhood. The aim of this study was to interview aging former refugee children about their recollection of traumatic experiences and to screen for full and partial posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their differential impact on today's quality of life and mental health. In 502 participants from the former German eastern territories who were displaced as children at the end of World War II (at the age of 512 years) we examined traumatic experiences, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PDS), comorbid symptoms (SCL-90-R), depressive symptoms (BDI) and quality of life (SF-36). 31.5% participants reported posttraumatic stress symptoms indicating current full PTSD, and 33.7% fulfilled the criteria of a current partial PTSD. Participants with full and partial PTSD reported a significantly reduced quality of life, often depressive and comorbid symptoms and were compromised in their well-being compared to participants without PTSD. The study demonstrates the long-term consequences of flight and expulsion during childhood in aging former refugee children more than 60 years later. Posttraumatic stress symptoms play a prominent role for quality of life and well-being in this population. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart - New York.

Author Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees Quality of life World War II

Index Keywords

personal experience flight Short Form 36 Germany depression refugee mental health human wellbeing Refugees comorbidity aging war Interview, Psychological controlled study priority journal Germany, West childhood quality of life school child Humans Beck Depression Inventory Aged, 80 and over preschool child Germany, East psychological rating scale Child, Preschool Psychiatric Status Rating Scales symptom german democratic republic psychometry Article major clinical study World War II posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale SCL 90 R Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79955811528&doi=10.1055%2fs-0031-1275341&partnerID=40&md5=7740da13611856f1b7feeec569c0eca1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1275341
ISSN: 09372032
Cited by: 16
Original Language: German