Long Term Psychological and Physical Effects of the POW Experience: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The problem of what psychological and physical effects can be expected to remain or to appear over time as a result of the captivity experience is addressed. A review of the existing literature is presented in order to delineate the major findings which seem to be relevant in dealing with the long-term effects to be expected among prisoners of war returned from Southeast Asia. The cumulative weight of the findings, largely gathered from existing follow-up studies of concentration camp survivors, indicated that the extraordinary stresses of incarceration are related to a heightened vulnerability to physical and psychological problems over time. The need for more comprehensive and definitive long-term follow-up studies of former U.S. prisoner populations is discussed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1974
Accession Number
ADA014080

Entities

People

  • Julius Segal

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amnesia
  • Brain Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • International Organizations
  • Nervous System
  • Pain
  • Personality
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Second World War
  • Southeast Asia
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Criminal Law
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Theoretical Analysis.