J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2004 Nov;43(6):740-748.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of Former Comfort Women for Japanese Army during World War II

• Min SK
• Lee CH
• Kim JY
• Shim EJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to identify posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II.
METHODS
: Twenty six survived victims were evaluated with Korean version of SCID-IV, MMSE, Geriatric Depression Scale and State and Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI) and Rorschach test, and compared with 24 healthy women elders.
RESULTS
: Results showed that, of 26 victims, 8 victims (30.8%) met criteria of PTSD and all 26 had suffered from symptoms of PTSD once in their lives. Their PTSD symptoms were characterized by the effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma and recurrent distressing dreams of the events. Survivors with PTSD had more serious depression. Compared with the control group, victims had more difficulties in anger control. They still suffer from various physical sequelae of physical trauma. In Rorschach test, they showed distorted perceptions, difficulty in managing emotional reactions, invading thoughts, impulsivity, and internalized anger and aggression.
CONCLUSION
: All victims suffered from symptoms of PTSD one time or another. About one third of them were diagnosed as having PTSD. Their PTSD symptoms were complicated by the mixtures depression, anger and various physical sequelae of physical trauma.

Keyword

Comfort women; PTSD; Depression; Anger; Rorschach test; Sexual violence

MeSH Terms

Aggression
Anger
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Depression
Dreams
Female
Humans
Impulsive Behavior
Military Personnel
Rorschach Test
Sex Offenses
Slavery
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
Survivors
World War II*