BACKGROUND: In a sample of ex-political prisoners in the GDR examined in the middle of the 1990s, a follow-up examination carried out 15 years later investigated alterations in the diagnosis and symptom prevalence of post-traumatic stress syndrome PTSS) as well as other psychiatric disorders. The diagnosis course given by the clinicians was compared with the retrospective subjective estimations by participants.

METHODS: A total of 93 ex-political prisoners participated in the follow-up study (85 %) with an average age of 64 years. Diagnoses and symptoms were collated using structured clinical interviews and questionnaires. The retrospective subjective estimation of progression of the participants was calculated using a PTSS symptom index based on four symptom groups (intrusions, avoidance, numbing and hyperarousal).

RESULTS: At the time of follow-up PTSS was present in 33 % of participants (in 1997 it was 29 %). In 1994 this was present in only approximately 50 % of cases and in the other 50 % it concerned newly incident or remission cases. The next most common diagnoses were major depression episodes (26 %), panic (with or without agoraphobia 24 %) and somatoform disorders (19 %). In the PTSS symptom profile intrusions, flashbacks and alienation feelings decreased with time but in contrast irritability and shock reactions increased. The subjective self-estimation of the course of PTSS symptoms by the participants often gave a resilient (never PTSS) or delayed and rarely a remission course pattern in comparison to the diagnosing clinicians.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a trauma-related long-term morbidity which is, however less stable than previously assumed.