Traumatische Lebens- erfahrungen und heutige Belastungsstörungen pflege- bedürftiger alter Menschen

Abstract

Zusammenfassung: Ziel der Studie war es, pflegebedürftige Senioren zu Erinnerungen an traumatische Lebenserfahrungen (TLEQ) zu befragen und ein Screening zu Symptomen der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PCL-C), komorbiden Beschwerden (SCL-90-R) und emotional-kognitiven Bewältigungsstrategien (FAPK, 3; TAS-20; SOC-13) durchzuführen. An der Erhebung beteiligten sich 37 Personen, die im Mittel 81 Jahre alt waren und im Zusammenhang mit körperlichen Erkrankungen einen ambulanten Pflegedienst in Anspruch nahmen. 65% litten unter intrusiven Symptomen, die häufig mit traumatischen Erfahrungen während des II.Weltkrieges assoziiert waren. Bei 11% wurde eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS) und bei weiteren 32% eine partielle PTBS festgestellt. Im Vergleich zu geringer belasteten TeilnehmerInnen berichteten Senioren mit (voller oder partieller) PTBS signifikant häufiger über komorbide Beschwerden (vor allem Depressivität), Defizite der emotionalen Kompetenz, Alexithymie und ein geringeres Kohärenzgefühl.

PTSD and trauma in Austria's elderly: influence of wartime experiences, postwar zone of occupation, and life time traumatization on today's mental health status—an interdisciplinary approach

“…Our results corroborate findings from Germany and other European countries (Bramsen & van der Ploeg, 1999; Fischer et al, 2006; Maercker et al, 1999; Teegen & Cizmic, 2003; Teegen & Handwerk, 2006; Teegen & Meister, 2000) that PTSD is a common disorder in the elderly due to their experience of WWII and that PTSD and trauma seem to affect mental health even across long periods of time. Postwar adverse and distressing conditions, like in the former Soviet zone, pose also further risk for posttraumatic symptomatology and distress in later years.…”

“…While previously reported PTSD prevalence rates for the German elderly ranged between 3.4 and 11.0% (Fischer et al, 2006; Glaesmer et al, 2010; Kuwert et al, 2007a; Maercker et al, 1999; Spitzer et al, 2008; Teegen & Cizmic, 2003; Teegen & Handwerk, 2006; Teegen & Meister, 2000), we found a rate of 1.9%. Including also subthreshold PTSD II, this rate increased to 13.9%, which seemed in good accordance with previous community-based findings (Glaesmer et al, 2010).…”

“…This rate is much higher than in previous epidemiological studies, where rates ranged between 20 and 80% (Hapke et al, 2006; Maercker et al, 2008; Spitzer et al, 2008), but comparable to a small study with elderlies in need of care (Teegen & Cizmic, 2003). Almost 93% reported some type of WRT; 79% of our sample experienced bombings, whereas 20% in a German community sample (Glaesmer et al, 2010).…”

“…The influence of war trauma becomes even more salient in high-risk populations. Several German studies found PTSD prevalence rates between 4.3 and 11% in samples of former nurses, displaced persons and refugees from the eastern parts of Germany, and survivors of bombings (Fischer, Struwe, & Lemke, 2006; Maercker, Herrle, & Grimm, 1999; Teegen & Cizmic, 2003; Teegen & Handwerk, 2006; Teegen & Meister, 2000). All studies reported prevailing lower quality of life and a variety of psychological symptoms.…”

Influence of personal and environmental factors on mental health in a sample of Austrian survivors of World War II with regard to PTSD: is it resilience?

“…In particular, research has found long-lasting effects of childhood and early adult trauma during World War II (WWII) on the mental health of elderly survivors studied decades after exposure, e.g., [2-8]. …”