Posttraumatische Verbitterung bei ehemals politisch Inhaftierten der Sowjetischen Besatzungszone und Deutschen Demokratischen Republik

Former political prisoners of the Soviet Occupation Zone (SOZ) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) experienced numerous situations as humiliating and unjust, which can trigger feelings of embitterment. This study examined the manifestation of posttraumatic embitterment as well as possible associated factors in former political prisoners of the SOZ and GDR.

In a sample of 246 former political prisoners a cross-sectional survey of embitterment and mental disorders was conducted using a self-reporting questionnaire for posttraumatic embitterment and the diagnostic expert system for detection of mental disorders (DIA-X). A predefined list of questions included socioeconomic, imprisonment-related, reappraisal-related and general health data.

In this study 28% (n = 69) of the respondents showed clinically relevant levels of embitterment (cut-off level ≥ 2.5). A significant positive correlation was detected for the factors chronic illness, degree of disability, affective disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissatisfaction with the legal reappraisal.

Embitterment plays a substantial role in the psychopathology of politically imprisoned persons and should be taken into consideration in the treatment of mental and somatic diseases.