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Quality of the relationship between origin of childhood perception of attachment and outcome of attachment associated with diagnosis of PTSD in adult Finnish war children and Finnish combat veterans from World War II (1939–1945) – DSM-IV applications of the attachment theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2015

Pentti Kalevi Andersson
Pentti Kalevi Andersson*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Sciences, Developmental Psychology, Vasa, Finland
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Pentti Kalevi Andersson, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Developmental Psychology, PO Box 311, 65101 Vasa, Finland. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Using diagnoses exclusively, comparable evaluations of the empirical evidence relevant to the content can be made. The term holocaust survivor syndrome according to the DSM-IV classification encompasses people with diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorders and psychopathological symptoms exposed to the Nazi genocide from 1933–1945 identified by Natan Kellermann, AMCHA, Israel (1999).

Methods:

The relationships between disorders of affectionate parenting and the development of dysfunctional models on one hand, and various psychopathological disorders on the other hand were investigated. Multi-axial assessment based on PTSD diagnosis (APA, 2000) with DSM-IV classification criteria of holocaust survivor syndrome and child survivor syndrome earlier found in holocaust survivors was used as criteria for comparison among Finnish sub-populations.

Results:

Symptoms similar to those previously described in association with holocaust survivor syndrome and child survivor syndrome were found in the population of Finnish people who had been displaced as children between 1939–1945.

Conclusions:

Complex PTSD syndrome is found among survivors of prolonged or repeated trauma who have coping strategies intended to assist their mental survival. Surviving Finnish child evacuees had symptoms at similar level to those reported among holocaust survivors, though Finnish combat veterans exhibited good mental adjustment with secure attachment.

Keywords

PTSD checklist (PCL-M)EMBUASQchildhood trauma
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , June 2015 , pp. 1039 - 1048
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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