Being held hostage in The Netherlands: A study of long-term aftereffects

In the 1970s, The Netherlands were confronted with eight large-scale hijackings, in which a total of nearly 500 persons were held hostage. In 1985, the long-term aftereffects (up to 9 years) of these hostage takings were studied. Approximately one-third of the ex-hostages studied were found to suffer from negative effects resulting from the hostage-taking and mentioned symptoms related to DSM-III categories “post-traumatic stress disorder” and “generalized anxiety disorder,” and a variety of medical symptoms. Twelve percent of the ex-hostages were found to be still in need of aftercare and help, even though nearly all of them had had several contacts with professional health care workers in the period following the hijacking. A number of variables are described which are related to lower degrees of well-being and more negative aftereffects in ex-hostages, thereby suggesting the predictability of greater vulnerability in some hostages.