Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Z Ryn

Publications and source records attributed to Z Ryn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

The evolution of mental disturbances in the concentration camp syndrome (KZ-syndrom).

As a result of long-term clinical research on former prisoners of the Nazi concentration camps, I analyzed the evolution of the clinical and psychopathological pattern of the KZ-syndrome. One can differentiate the following characteristic phases: psychosomatic inanition, latency of disease, personality and adaptation disturbances, a pseudo-neurotic and depressive phase, premature aging, and an organic phase. The stigma of KZ-syndrome is present in a second generation in different forms: personality disturbances, emotional and/or social immaturity, social disadaptation, higher frequency of neurotic states, divorce, alcoholism, and suicide. The camp stress has left in human nature traces so painful that they cannot disappear when the generation of former prisoners is gone.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[The nightmare continues. Life after the occupation time in survivors and their descendants].

In the physical and psychical suffering of former concentrations camp inmates, their families, and descendants Auschwitz is as real as ever. The author reports on his own encounters with victims and on the protracted consequences of the camp experience. The author comments on the difficulty of handling the topic of Auschwitz both in Poland and in the Federal Republic.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Between life and death: experiences of concentration camp mussulmen during the holocaust.

During the years of 1981 and 1982, 89 former prisoners of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp responded to questionnaires on mussulmen-prisoners in the extreme phase of starvation disease. In this article, I describe the origin of the term "mussulman," mussulmens' somatic and mental state, their behavior and camp customs. Prisoners characterized as mussulmen remain between life and death, without expressing emotional reactions and defense mechanisms apart from a hypersensibility to food-related stimuli. A mussulman was a product of the camp factory of death. A deep somatic and emotional stigma remains in those who survived the mussulmen state.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Psychopathology in mountaineering--mental disturbances under high-altitude stress.

In the years 1960-1985 psychiatric and psychological research was conducted among a group of 80 Polish alpinists. Experimental research was conducted during the expeditions to the Hindu Kush mountains and to the Andes (1971, 1973-74, 1979, 1985). The aim of the research was to describe the personality of the alpinists, their motivation, as well as mental disturbances caused by staying at high altitudes. On the basis of an interview and the Cattell personality questionnaire, two types of personality were distinguished: the schizoid-psychasthenic type (53 persons, i.e. 66%) and the asthenic-neurotic type (23 persons, i.e. 30%). As regards the motivation for mountain climbing, situational and personality factors were described, among them, the need to experience "powerful situations" and compensating for an inferiority complex. A so called integrational fear which mobilizes the psychophysical capabilities to overcome the hardships of the climb, was described as characteristic of the alpinists. Depending on the altitude and the duration of one's stay at it, the mental disturbances, in most cases took on the form of the neurasthenic syndrome (asthenic or sthenic) at low altitudes (3000-4000 m), the cyclothymic syndrome at medium altitudes (4000-5000 m), and the acute organic brain syndrome at high altitudes (above 7000 m). In 24 (35%) cases, there occurred psychotic disturbances with profound disturbances of consciousness and orientation. These states were accompanied by symptoms of high-altitude deterioration with a break-down in the physical condition, disturbances in the hydro-electrolyte equilibrium, and a considerable loss of bodily weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Suicides in the Nazi concentration camps.

On the basis of psychiatric interviews with 69 former prisoners of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, this paper describes the circumstances, motives, and ways of committing suicide in the camp. The interview made it clear that thousands of prisoners perished by suicide. The number of committed suicides was larger than that of attempted suicides. The most frequent types of suicide victims were prisoners of Jewish descent, foreigners, white-collar workers, and old people. The most common motives of suicides were depressive reactions; anxiety; somatic illnesses; the threat of death; emotional motives; loss of emotional support; beatings and tortures; and patriotic and altruistic motives. The most common methods of committing suicide were flinging oneself onto the electrified wires surrounding the camp, hanging, poisoning, cutting one's veins, and drowning. There were also cases of mass suicides, chiefly in the women's camp. Suicides committed from patriotic or altruistic motives testified to the fact that human beings were able to preserve their dignity even in the face of death.

Aged↗