title: PTSD prevalence among Polish World War II survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Over the past decade research has been published in several Western European countries on the prevalence of PTSD among World War II survivors, mostly civilians. Prevalence rates ranged from 1.9% to 10.8 %. The aim of the study was to measure the frequency of PTSD occurrence among Polish WWII survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 96 persons: 59 women and 37 men, aged 70-96 were analyzed. All participants were born before 1945. They completed Polish adaptations of: Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Impact of Events Scale (IES), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and WWII trauma related questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence rate of potential PTSD was 32,3% Mean values of both number and severity of symptoms of PTSD were significantly higher for respondents with at least one war related trauma comparing to the participants who did note relate any such trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing to other studies on WWII related PTSD the prevalence rate of possible PTSD was very high. Looking for possible explanation of such results seems to be an important challenge.
authors.affiliation: SWPS Uniwersytet Humanistycznospołeczny, Warszawa.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lis-Turlejska
authors.affiliation: SWPS Uniwersytet Humanistycznospołeczny, Wydział Zamiejscowy we Wrocławiu.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Łuszczyńska
authors.affiliation: Środowiskowy Dom Samopomocy Caritas DWP, Mińsk Mazowiecki.
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szumiał
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D047789:World War II
keywords: PTSD; World War II; posttraumatic stress disorder; prevalence; war trauma