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Holocaust survivors: a clinical perspective
1University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Vancouver, Canada.
Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa : Revue De Psychiatrie De L'Universite D'Ottawa
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Psychiatric care for Holocaust survivors was initially overlooked. Later, the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought renewed attention to their mental health needs and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
- Holocaust Research
Background:
- Post-World War II psychiatric response to Holocaust survivors was notably absent in professional literature and major textbooks.
- Limited attention was given to the psychiatric consequences and treatment of survivors until the introduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-III.
- A consistent number of Holocaust survivors and their descendants have sought psychiatric help for various issues over the past two decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the historical neglect of psychiatric care for Holocaust survivors.
- To underscore the impact of recognizing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on addressing survivor mental health.
- To document the ongoing presentation of psychiatric problems in survivors and their children, including recent cases of "child survivors" experiencing initial breakdowns.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical psychiatric literature and textbooks.
- Clinical observation and case documentation over nearly twenty years of psychiatric practice.
- Analysis of patient presentations, focusing on Holocaust survivors, their children, and "child survivors".
Main Results:
- Significant initial lack of psychiatric engagement with the needs of Holocaust survivors post-WWII.
- The formalization of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-III marked a turning point in acknowledging survivor trauma.
- Recent years have seen an increase in "child survivors" (under 16 during WWII) presenting with acute psychiatric distress linked to their Holocaust experiences.
Conclusions:
- The psychiatric profession's response to Holocaust survivors evolved significantly, from initial neglect to recognition through PTSD diagnosis.
- Holocaust trauma continues to manifest in survivors and subsequent generations, necessitating ongoing psychiatric attention and specialized care.
- The long-term psychiatric impact on "child survivors" warrants further investigation and targeted therapeutic approaches.