Home by Ship: Reaction Patterns of American Prisoners of War Repatriated From North Korea

The reaction patterns of a group of American prisoners of the Korean conflict, in response to their uniquely traumatizing experience, have been described. These were correlated with the sequence of behavior between repatriation and arrival in San Francisco 16 to 19 days later, determined by means of individual interviews, shipboard observations, and group therapy sessions conducted during the voyage. Shifting patterns of individual and group defenses and identifications were discussed, with reference to underlying dynamics and relationships to future adjustment problems.