Late-onset schizophrenia in child survivors of the holocaust.
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.
Reulbach
Udo
U
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany. udo.reulbach@uk-erlangen.de
Bleich
Stefan
S
Biermann
Teresa
T
Pfahlberg
Annette
A
Sperling
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003209:Concentration Camps / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D017767:Holocaust / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D015233:Models, Statistical; D028683:National Socialism / Q000266:history; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data