Posttraumatic stress disorder in former 'comfort women'

This study investigated the mental health of former 'comfort women' who serviced the Japanese Imperial Military during the Second World War.

We evaluated 26 former comfort women's life histories, cognitive functioning, DSM-IV diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, paranoid state, anger, and Rorschach test results, and compared the data with those of 24 healthy women.

Cognitive functioning was not significantly different between former comfort women and the comparison group. All 26 former comfort women had undergone traumatic experiences such as sexual slavery and had suffered PTSD symptoms at least once in their lives. Of the 26, 8 (30.8%) were diagnosed as having PTSD, as opposed to none in the comparison group. The women's PTSD symptoms were characterized by avoidance behavior, intrusive and distressing recollections, and anger. There were no significant differences in depression or paranoid state between the two groups, but former comfort women had impairments in anger control. Former comfort women with PTSD were more depressed. On the Rorschach test, former comfort women revealed characteristic responses related not only to sex and morbidity but also to anger and violence.

The small number of subjects might not represent all former comfort women. Some data collected by self report might limit the objectivity of the results.

The results suggest that former comfort women are still suffering from traumatic memories, symptoms of PTSD, including avoidant behavior, and anger control impairment, even 60 years after the end of the war.