Posttraumatic stress disorder among survivors of a kamikaze attack

Psychol Rep. 2001 Dec;89(3):577-82. doi: 10.2466/pr0.2001.89.3.577.

Abstract

26 sailors who survived a Kamikaze attack during the battle for Okinawa in World War II were given two adapted forms of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian to assess the psychological reactions they had to the sinking of their ship. Depending on the assessment criteria used, their responses indicated significant stress reactions ranging from 8.3% to 44% of the sample. The findings provide evidence that a single combat experience can have lifelong, averse psychological effects.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Aviation / psychology*
  • Combat Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Combat Disorders / psychology
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Survivors / psychology*
  • Terrorism / psychology*
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Warfare*