Impact of cumulative lifetime trauma and recent stress on current posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in holocaust survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among cumulative lifetime trauma, recent stressful events, and presence and severity of current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in Holocaust survivors and nonexposed comparison subjects.


METHODS
Lifetime trauma, recent stressful events, and presence and severity of PTSD were assessed in Holocaust survivors (N=72) and comparison subjects ( N=19).


RESULTS
Survivors with PTSD (N =40) reported significantly greater cumulative trauma and recent stress than survivors without PTSD (N=32) and comparison subjects. Severity of PTSD symptoms, cumulative trauma, and recent stress were significantly associated.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence and severity of current PTSD were related to having experienced stressful events in addition to the Holocaust.
Yehuda
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Kahana
B
B
Schmeidler
J
J
Southwick
S M
SM
Wilson
S
S
Giller
E L
EL
D000368:Aged; D017767:Holocaust / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013534:Survival / Q000523:psychology*