Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to describe the long-term medical and psychosocial effects found as well on survivors of extermination camps as sometimes among their children. The health conditions induced by severe psychotraumas are connected to the concept of posttraumatic stress disorder. The biological, psychological and medical effects of psychotraumas imply alterations of brain structures, neuronal hypersensitivity, endocrine and immunological disfunctions, psychological and behavioural disturbances. In Romania D. L. Dumitrascu reported an increased incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms found after 45 years on former prisoners. As well on survivors as in the second generation the concentration camp syndrome - sequel of Holocaust - shows a wide heterogeneity regarding the coping resources and the vulnerability to new stressful events and discrepancies between clinical and empirical reports.

Keywords: Holocaust psychotrauma, psychosomatic effects, medical conditions, second generation syndrome