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The relationship between the nature and severity of experiences of torture and ill-treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was studied in 550 male nonhelp-seeking Palestinian political ex-prisoners from the Gaza Strip. Results showed that the more a prisoner had been exposed to physical, chemical and electric torture, psychological ill-treatment, and sensory deprivation or bombardment, the more he subsequently suffered from intrusive reexperiencing, withdrawal and numbness, and hyperarousal. Existential problems were not related to torture experiences. Furthermore, duration of imprisonment, health problems during the imprisonment, harassment during arrest and after release, family, marriage and economic difficulties all predicted intrusive reexperiences of trauma. Also, ex-prisoners who continued to be harassed by military authorities and had economic problems suffered more from withdrawal, numbness, and hyperarousal than others.

The aim of the study was to describe and understand the experiences and activities that people use in order to master their everyday health. Data was collected among 142 primary health care patients, who were given a semi-structured diary to fill for two weeks. The diaries were analysed by using qualitative methods of content analysis and grounded method. The main theme of diaries were analysed in order to depict the different orientations of mastery. Four different types were found: Daily life dominated by one theme, such as sport, faith or diet; Daily life as struggle with pain and illness, Regular daily life, Daily life as an ordeal and Daily life characterized by abundant joyful life.