Delusional psychoses associated with unpatriotic conduct during World War II: a long-term follow-up study.
Of a large sample of patients with paranoid psychoses consecutively admitted to the Psychiatric Department, University of Oslo, during a period after World War II, 10 patients (6.3%, 9 women and 1 man) became ill through accusations of unpatriotic conduct during the war. The psychosis seemed precipitated in connection with legal procedures against the patient in 3 cases, and against close relatives in 2 patients. In 2 cases mixed precipitating events were present, while the psychosis in 3 cases had a connection with the woman being intimate with occupation soldiers. Discharge diagnosis according to DSM-III was schizophrenia (n = 2), schizophreniform disorder (n = 4), schizoaffective disorder (n = 1), major depressive disorder (n = 1), mania (n = 1), and atypical psychosis (n = 1). The patients have been followed up twice, with a mean 31 years of observation. Course and outcome varied, mostly according to the diagnosis. Most patients had a favorable global outcome, although they had a tendency to keep up their social isolation. None of the patients felt they had done anything wrong or regretted their behavior during the war.
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Psychiatric Institute, Gaustad Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Opjordsmoen
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011056:Political Systems; D011057:Politics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014857:Warfare