Psychiatric disorders and other health dimensions among Holocaust survivors 6 decades later

Background No previous community-based epidemiological study has explored psychiatric disorders among those who survived the Holocaust. Aims To examine anxiety and depressive disorders, sleep disturbances, other health problems and use of services among individuals exposed and unexposed to the Holocaust. Method The relevant population samples were part of the Israel World Mental Health Survey. The interview schedule included the Composite International Diagnostic interview and other health-related items. Results The Holocaust survivor group had higher lifetime (16.1%; OR = 6.8, 95% CI 1.9-24.2) and 12-month (6.9%; OR = 22.5, 95% CI 2.5-204.8) prevalence rates of anxiety disorders, and more current sleep disturbances (62.4%; OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.4) and emotional distress (P<0.001) than their counterparts, but did not have higher rates of depressive disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions Early severe adversity was associated with psychopathological disorder long after the end of the Second World War, but not in all survivors. Age during the Holocaust did not modify the results.