Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

War Trauma and the Aged

An Israeli Perspective

  • Chapter
Handbook of Aging and Mental Health

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging ((SSAD))

Abstract

The pathogenic effects of traumatic events have been consistently documented over a large range of populations and occurrences (Wilson & Raphael, 1993). At the same time, considerable variability in human response to trauma has been documented (e.g., Solomon, Mikulincer, & Waysman, 1991). Although many survivors are able to put the trauma behind them and resume their lives, others are detrimentally affected. They may suffer a deterioration of health and social functioning, along with a large variety of psychological disturbances, including anxiety, depression, somatization (Solomon, 1993), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is the most common and conspicuous psychological sequela of trauma (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 289.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baider, L., Peretz, T., & Kaplan De-Nour, A. (1992). Effect of the Holocaust on coping with cancer. Social Science and Medicine, 34, 11–15.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baider, L., & Sarell, M. (1984). Coping with cancer among Holocaust survivors in Israel: An exploratory study. Journal of Human Stress, 10, 121–127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beigel, A., & Berren, M. R. (1985). Human induced disasters. Psychiatric Annals, 15, 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, B. D. (1978). Disaster impact and response: Overcoming the thousand natural shocks. Geron-tologist, 18, 531–540.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolin, R., & Klenow, D. J. (1982-1983). Response of the elderly to disaster: An age-stratified analysis. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 16, 283–296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolin, R., & Klenow, D. J. (1988). Older people in disaster: A comparison of black and white victims. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 26, 29–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brockway, S. (1988). Case report: Flashback as a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom in a WWII veteran. Military Medicine, 153, 372–373.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, A. W., & Halmstrom, C. C. (1974). Rape trauma syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 981–986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carmeli, A., Mevorach, L., Leiberman, N., Taubman, A., Kahanovitz, S., & Navon, D. (1992). The Gulf War: Home front in a test of crisis, final report. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Israel Defense Force. [Hebrew]

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmil, D., & Carel, R. S. (1986). Emotional distress and satisfaction in life among Holocaust survivors: A community study of survivors and controls. Psychological Medicine, 16, 141–149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christenson, R. M., Walker, J. L., Ross, D. R., & Maltbie, A. A. (1981). Reactivation of traumatic conflicts. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 984–985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, Y. C., Butcher, Y. N., & Carson, R. C. (1980). Abnormal psychology and modern life. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danieli, Y. (1994). As survivors age: Part I. Clinical Quarterly, 4, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasberg, H. (1987). Psychological distress of Holocaust survivors and their offspring in Israel, forty years later: A review. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 24, 243–256.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, W. W, Sigal, J. J., & Weinfeld, M. (1982). Impairment in Holocaust survivors after 33 years: Data from an unbiased community sample. American Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 773–777.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eitinger, L. (1980). The Concentration Camp Syndrome and its late sequelae. In J. Dimsdale (Ed.), Survivors, victims and perpetrators (pp. 127–161). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, S. (1983). Natural healing processes of the mind: Graded stress inoculation as an inherent coping mechanism. In D. Michenbaum & M. Yarenko (Eds.), Stress reduction and prevention (pp. 39–66). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J. (1983). Personality as a fundamental concept in scientific psychology. Austrian Journal of Psychology, 35, 289–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, C. J. (1980). Effects of natural vs. human-induced violence. Evaluation and Change [Special Issue], 71-75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedsman, H. J. (1961). Reactions of older persons to disaster-caused losses: An hypothesis of relative deprivation. Gerontologist, 1, 34–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goenjian, A. K., Majarian, L. M., Pynoos, R. S., Steinberg, A. M, Manoukian, G., Tavosian, A., & Fairbanks, L. A. (1994). Posttraumatic stress disorder in elderly and younger adults after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 895–901.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, G., Van Kammen, W, Shelly, C., Miller, D., & Van Kammen, D. (1987). Survivors of imprisonment in the Pacific theatre during World War II. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1210–1213.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, D., & Calsyn, R. J. (1989). The relationship of stress and social support to life satisfaction: Age effects. Journal of Community Psychology, 17, 214–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. L., Grace, M. C., Lindy, J. D., & Leonard, A. C. (1990). Race differences in response to combat stress. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3, 379–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagstrom, R. (1995). The acute psychological impact on survivors following a train accident. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, 391–402.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamner, M. B. (1994). Exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms with medical illness. General Hospital Psychiatry, 16, 135–137.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hantman, S., Solomon, Z., & Prager, E. (1994). The effect of previous exposure to traumatic stress on the responses of elderly people to the Gulf War. In J. Lomranz & G. Naveh (Eds.), Trauma and old age: Coping with the stress of the Gulf War (pp. 59-72). Jerusalem: JDC. [Hebrew]

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann, M. D., & Eryavec, G. (1994). Delayed onset post traumatic stress disorder in World War II veterans. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 439–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertz, D. G. (1990). Trauma and nostalgia: New aspects on the coping of aging Holocaust survivors. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 27, 189–198.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfield, M. J. (1977). Care of the aging Holocaust survivors. American Journal of Nursing, 20, 1187–1189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S., Lomranz, J., Eyal, N., Bridges, A., & Tzemach, M. (1989). Pulse of a nation: Depressive mood reactions of Israelis to the Israel-Lebanon War. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 1002–1012.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta, F., & Horton, R. (1978). Coping behavior of elderly flood victims. Gerontologist, 18, 541–546.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I. L. (1971). Stress and frustration. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janoff-Bulman, R. (1989). Assumptive worlds and the stress of traumatic events: Applications of the schema construct. Social Cognition, 7, 113–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, G. H., & Lovell, J. W.T. (1987). Delayed psychiatric sequelae among Folkland War veterans. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 37, 34–35.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahana, B., Harel, Z., & Kahana, E. (1989). Clinical and gerontological issues facing survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. In P. Marcus & A. Rosenberg (Eds.). Healing their wounds (pp. 197–211). New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keinan, G. (1979). The effects of personality and training variables on the experiences, stress and quality of performance in situations where physical integrity is threatened. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilijanek, T. S., & Drabek, T. E. (1979). Assessing long-term impacts of a natural disaster: A focus on the elderly. Gerontologist, 19, 555–566.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kluznik, J. C., Speed, N. H., Van Valkenburg, C., & Magraw, R. (1986). Forty-year follow-up of United States prisoners of war. American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 1443–1446.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (1987). Exploring the impact of a natural disaster on the health and psychological well-being of older adults. Journal of Human Stress, 13, 61–69.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuch, K., & Cox, B. J. (1992). Symptoms of PTSD in 124 survivors of the Holocaust. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 337–340.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levav, I., & Abramson, J. H. (1984). Emotional distress among concentration camp survivors: A community study in Jerusalem. Psychological Medicine, 14, 215–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann, E. (1944). Symptomatology and management of acute grief. American Journal of Psychiatry, 101, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomranz, J. (1990). Long-term adaptation to traumatic stress in light of adult development and aging perspectives. In M. A. Stephens, S. Crowther, S. Hobfoll, & D. L. Tennebaum (Eds.), Stress and coping in later life families (pp. 99–121). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomranz, J. (1994). Preface: Stress, trauma, and old age during the Gulf War. In J. Lomranz & G. Naveh (Eds.), Trauma and old age: Coping with the stress of the Gulf War (pp. 1–11). Jerusalem: JDC. [Hebrew]

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomranz, J., & Eyal, N. (1994). A longitudinal study of depressive moods of men and women in several age groups during the Gulf War. In J. Lomranz & G. Naveh (Eds.), Trauma and old age: Coping with the stress of the Gulf War (pp. 13–29). Jerusalem: JDC. [Hebrew]

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, N., Chamberlain, K., & Vincent, C. (1994). Effect of the Gulf War on reactivation of adverse combat-related memories in Vietnam veterans. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50, 138–144.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, J. E. (1970). Setting measures and theses: An integrative review of some research of social and psychological factors in stress. In J. E. McGrath (Ed.), Social and psychological factors in stress (pp. 558–596). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNaughton, M. E., Smith, L. W, Patterson, T. L., & Grant, I. (1990). Stress, social support, coping resources, and immune status in elderly women. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 178, 460–461.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meichenbaum, D. (1985). Stress inoculation training. New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melick, M. E., & Logue, J. N. (1985-1986). The effect of disaster on the health and well-being of older women. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 21, 27–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. A., Turner, J. G., & Kimball, E. (1981). Big Thompson Flood victims: One year later. Family Relations, 30, 111–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. G. (1981). Simultaneous statistical influence. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, A. (1983). Social psychology and social issues: Research and theory on help seeking and help receiving in applied settings. In A. Nadler & J. D. Fisher (Eds.), New directions in helping (Vol. 3). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navon, D. (1992, August). Appendix: Public fear legitimization. In A. Carmeli, L. Mevorach, N. Leiberman, A. Taubman, S. Kahanovitz, & D. Navon (Eds.), The Gulf War: The home front in a test of crisis. IDF, Department of Behavioral Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neiderland, W. G. (1968). The problem of the survivor. In H. Krystal (Ed.). Massive psychic trauma (pp. 8–23). New York: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, F. H., & Murrel, S. A. (1988). Prior experience as a moderator of disaster impact on anxiety symptoms in older adults. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 665–683.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Notman, M., & Nadelson, C. (1976). The rape victim: Psychodynamic consideration. American Journal of Psychiatry, 133, 408–412.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, D. G., & Hoffmann, M. (1982). Assessment of psychological reactions in disaster victims. Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 157–167.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Page, W. F., Engdahl, B. E., & Eberly, R. E. (1991). Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among former prisoners of war. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 179, 670–677.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poulshock, S. W., & Cohen, E. S. (1975). The elderly in the aftermath of a disaster. Gerontologist, 15, 357–361.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prager, E., & Solomon, Z. (1995a). Cognitive control as a buffer of war-induced stress in a middle-aged and older Israeli sample. Aging and Society, 15, 355–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prager, E., & Solomon, Z. (1995b). Correlates of war-induced stress responses among late middle-aged and elderly Israelis. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 41, 203–220.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, J., Reynolds, C. F., Yaeger, A. L., Houck, P. R., & Horowitz, L. F. (1991). Sleep disturbances in survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 62–66.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutledge, H. E., Hunter, E. J., & Dahl, B. B. (1979). Human values and the prisoner of war. Environment and Behavior, 11, 227–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selye, H. (1956). The stress of life. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanan, J., & Shahar, O. (1983). Cognitive and personality functioning of Jewish Holocaust survivors during midlife transition in Israel. Archives of Psychology, 135, 275–294.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silver, R. L., & Wortman, C. B. (1980). Coping with undesirable life events. In J. Garber & M. E. P. Seligman (Eds.), Human helplessness (pp. 279–340). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z. (1993). Combat stress reaction: The enduring toll of war. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z. (1995). Coping with war-induced stress: The Gulf War and the Israeli response. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., Mikulincer, M, & Jacob, B. R. (1987). Exposure to recurrent combat stress: Combat stress reaction among Israeli soldiers in the 1982 Lebanon War. Psychological Medicine, 17, 433–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., Mikulincer, M., & Waysman, M. (1991). Delayed and immediate onset posttraumatic stress disorder: The role of life events and social resources. Journal of Community Psychology, 19, 231–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., Oppenheimer, B., Elizur, Y, & Waysman, M. (1990a). Exposure to recurrent combat stress: Can successful coping in a second war heal combat-related PTSD from the past?. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 4, 141–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., Oppenheimer, B., Elizur, Y, & Waysman, M. (1990b). Trauma deepens trauma: The consequences of recurrent combat stress reaction. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 27, 233–241.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., & Prager, E. (1992). Elderly Israeli Holocaust survivors during the Persian Gulf War: A study of psychological distress. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 1707–1710.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sperr, E. V., Sperr, S. J., Craft, R. S., & Boudewyns, P. A. (1990). MMPI profiles and posttraumatic symptomatology in former prisoners of war. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3, 369–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Titchner, J. L. (1986). Post-traumatic decline: A consequence of unresolved destructive drives. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Trauma and its wake: Vol. 2. Traumatic stress, theory, research and intervention (pp. 5–20). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Titchner, J. L., & Ross, W. O. (1974). Acute or chronic stress as determinants of behavior, character, and neuroses. In S. Arieti & E. B. Brody (Eds.), American handbook of psychiatry (2nd Ed., pp. 39–60). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinokur, A., & Selzer, M. (1975). Desirable versus undesirable life events: Their relationship to stress and mental distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32, 329–337.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White, N. S. (1983). Post-traumatic stress disorder [Letter to the editor]. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 34, 1061–1062.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. P., & Raphael, B. (1993). International handbook of traumatic stress syndromes. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Zahava Solomon & Karni Ginzburg

Authors
  1. Zahava Solomon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karni Ginzburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Jacob Lomranz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Solomon, Z., Ginzburg, K. (1998). War Trauma and the Aged. In: Lomranz, J. (eds) Handbook of Aging and Mental Health. The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0098-2_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0098-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0100-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0098-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation