The Prisoner of War

Abstract

The prisoner of war (POW) experience is greatly influenced by the environmental and sociocultural factors of the particular captivity setting. Among the most important coping mechanisms are communication, maintenance of military social structure, and personality flexibility. Following repatriation some former POWs develop psychiatric disorders, most commonly 1) medico-psychiatric disorders due to illness, physical trauma, or nutritional deficit, 2) post-traumatic stress disorder, 3) adjustment disorder, 4) depression, 5) anxiety disorders, 6) substance use disorders, and 7) family problems. The severity of captivity and the presence or absence of social supports during and after the POW experience play major roles in the recovery or illness that may occur after repatriation.

Trajectories of Attachment Insecurities Over a 17-Year Period: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis of the Impact of War Captivity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…This finding corroborates previous studies showing that the psychological trauma of war can affect veterans' personalities, including changes in selfconceptions and interpersonal relationships (Herman, 1992;Pozgain, Mandic, Filakovic, & Antolouic-Pozgain, 2003;Terr, 1991). War captivity usually follows potentially traumatic combat experiences, eroding further a soldier's already depleted coping resources (Ursano et al, 1996), often inflicting greater damage than a single trauma (Herman, 1992). Furthermore, captivity includes traumatic interpersonal relations with captors (e.g., physical and psychological torture, humiliation, isolation), which may damage ex-POWs' trust and confidence in other people's goodwill in ways that undermine their ability to establish and sustain secure attachments after returning home.…”

“…Studies have found that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological outcome of war captivity (e.g., Dikel, Engdahl, & Eberly, 2005;Speed, Engdahl, Schwartz, & Eberly, 1989;Sutker, Allain, & Winstead, 1993). Ex-POWs may also suffer from a wide range of psychiatric co-morbidities, including anxiety disorders and depression (e.g., Neria, Solomon, & Dekel, 1998;Solomon & Dekel, 2005;Ursano et al, 1996).…”

Detainment and health: The case of the Lebanese hostages of war

“…The experience individuals have as POW varies depending on where, when, and for how long a person is imprisoned. This makes generalizing from one population to another difficult (Ursano et al. 1996).…”

Trauma Rehabilitation After War and Conflict

“…Most studies have found that substantial proportions of former POWs carry their wounds with them for a very long time (Engdahl, Dikel, Eberly, & Blank, 1997;Port, Engdahl, & Frazier, 2001). In addition, POWs may also suffer from a wide range of psychiatric coexisting disorders, especially anxiety and depression (Ursano & Rundell, 1990).…”