BACKGROUND: An epidemiological survey was made of war trauma and its consequences in the general population. METHOD: One member aged over 15 years from each of 101 randomly selected families in a Primary Health Area in Sri Lanka were interviewed using the Stress Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Nearly one-half had experienced between five and nine war stresses, and one-quarter experienced over 10 (mean 6.66). Only 6% had not experienced any. Sixty-four per cent had developed psychosocial sequelae, including somatisation (41%), post-traumatic stress disorder (27%), anxiety disorder (26%), major depression (25%), hostility (19%), relationship problems (13%), alcohol and drug misuse (15%) and functional disability (18%). CONCLUSION: The trauma experienced correlated strongly with psychosocial and somatic symptoms.
BACKGROUND: An epidemiological survey was made of war trauma and its consequences in the general population. METHOD: One member aged over 15 years from each of 101 randomly selected families in a Primary Health Area in Sri Lanka were interviewed using the Stress Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Nearly one-half had experienced between five and nine war stresses, and one-quarter experienced over 10 (mean 6.66). Only 6% had not experienced any. Sixty-four per cent had developed psychosocial sequelae, including somatisation (41%), post-traumatic stress disorder (27%), anxiety disorder (26%), major depression (25%), hostility (19%), relationship problems (13%), alcohol and drug misuse (15%) and functional disability (18%). CONCLUSION: The trauma experienced correlated strongly with psychosocial and somatic symptoms.
Authors: Shehan S Williams; Chamara A Wijesinghe; Shaluka F Jayamanne; Nicholas A Buckley; Andrew H Dawson; David G Lalloo; H Janaka de Silva Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2011-08-02
Authors: Michael Odenwald; Birke Lingenfelder; Maggie Schauer; Frank Neuner; Brigitte Rockstroh; Harald Hinkel; Thomas Elbert Journal: Confl Health Date: 2007-09-06 Impact factor: 2.723