Late-onset schizophrenia in child survivors of the holocaust

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Apr;195(4):315-9. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000261878.55882.55.

Abstract

According to the stress diathesis model, the probability of psychosis is increased in high-risk groups, a vulnerable one being the Holocaust child survivors. This study was conducted to inquire into the long-term effects of their Holocaust experience. We concentrated on a possible association between the onset of schizophrenia and the degree of persecution. Ninety-three medical files of Holocaust child survivors were recruited from sociomedical expert reports of the Restitution Office in Germany. The onset of schizophrenia was used as dependent variable in a categorical regression model. Regarding schizophrenia, exclusively late-onset schizophrenia could be diagnosed in our sample. Schizophrenia was significantly associated with the highest category of persecution (Fisher exact test, p < 0.001). In the categorical regression model, the category of persecution was a significant coefficient, only (F = 23.9, p < 0.001). The strong association between late onset of schizophrenia and the degree of persecution suggest an influence of stress exposure.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Age of Onset
  • Child
  • Concentration Camps / history
  • Concentration Camps / statistics & numerical data
  • Disease Susceptibility / epidemiology*
  • Disease Susceptibility / psychology
  • History, 20th Century
  • Holocaust / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Models, Statistical
  • National Socialism / history
  • Psychology, Child*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Survivors / psychology*
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors
  • Violence / history
  • Violence / psychology
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data