You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.


ABOUT JAMA
Advanced Search

Welcome   | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In


  Vol. 286 No. 5, August 1, 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  JAMA
  •  Online Features
  Original Contribution
 This Article
 •Full text
 •PDF
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Citation map
 •Citing articles on HighWire
 •Citing articles on Web of Science (131)
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Related letters
 •Related articles
 •Similar articles in JAMA
 Topic Collections
 •Psychiatry
 •Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
 •Violence and Human Rights
 •War
 •Violence and Human Rights, Other
 •Alert me on articles by topic
 Social Bookmarking
  Add to CiteULike Add to Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Add to Digg Add to Reddit Add to Technorati Add to Twitter What's this?

Lifetime Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 4 Postconflict Settings

Joop T. V. M. de Jong, MD,PhD; Ivan H. Komproe, PhD; Mark Van Ommeren, PhD; Mustafa El Masri, MD; Mesfin Araya, MD; Noureddine Khaled, PhD; Willem van de Put, MA; Daya Somasundaram, MD,MRCPsych

JAMA. 2001;286:555-562.

Context  Little is known about the impact of trauma in postconflict, low-income countries where people have survived multiple traumatic experiences.

Objective  To establish the prevalence rates of and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 4 postconflict, low-income countries.

Design, Setting, and Participants  Epidemiological survey conducted between 1997 and 1999 among survivors of war or mass violence (aged >=16 years) who were randomly selected from community populations in Algeria (n = 653), Cambodia (n = 610), Ethiopia (n = 1200), and Gaza (n = 585).

Main Outcome Measure  Prevalence rates of PTSD, assessed using the PTSD module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 2.1 and evaluated in relation to traumatic events, assessed using an adapted version of the Life Events and Social History Questionnaire.

Results  The prevalence rate of assessed PTSD was 37.4% in Algeria, 28.4% in Cambodia, 15.8% in Ethiopia, and 17.8% in Gaza. Conflict-related trauma after age 12 years was the only risk factor for PTSD that was present in all 4 samples. Torture was a risk factor in all samples except Cambodia. Psychiatric history and current illness were risk factors in Cambodia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-5.4 and adjusted OR,1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7, respectively) and Ethiopia (adjusted OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.0-7.4 and adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.7, respectively). Poor quality of camp was associated with PTSD in Algeria (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5) and in Gaza (adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.8). Daily hassles were associated with PTSD in Algeria (adjusted OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4). Youth domestic stress, death or separation in the family, and alcohol abuse in parents were associated with PTSD in Cambodia (adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6; adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8; and adjusted OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.4, respectively).

Conclusions  Using the same assessment methods, a wide range of rates of symptoms of PTSD were found among 4 low-income populations who have experienced war, conflict, or mass violence. We identified specific patterns of risk factors per country. Our findings indicate the importance of contextual differences in the study of traumatic stress and human rights violations.


Author Affiliations: Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) WHO Collaborating Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Drs de Jong, Komproe, and Van Ommeren); the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (Drs de Jong and Komproe); Centre for Victims of Torture, Kathmandu, Nepal (Dr Van Ommeren); Société Algeriénne de Recherche en Psychologie (SARP)/TPO Algeria, Algiers (Drs El Masri and Khaled);Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), Gaza (Dr El Masri); TPO Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Dr Araya); TPO Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Mr van de Put and Dr Somasundaram); HealthNet International, Amsterdam (Mr van de Put); and University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka (Dr Somasundaram).



Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter     What's this?

RELATED LETTERS

Exposure to Terrorism, Stress-Related Mental Health Symptoms, and Coping Behaviors Among a Nationally Representative Sample in Israel
Avraham Bleich, Marc Gelkopf, and Zahava Solomon
JAMA. 2003;290(5):612-620.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Factors Associated With Poor Mental Health Among Guatemalan Refugees Living in Mexico 20 Years After Civil Conflict
Miriam Sabin, Barbara Lopes Cardozo, Larry Nackerud, Reinhard Kaiser, and Luis Varese
JAMA. 2003;290(5):635-642.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

RELATED ARTICLES

Recognition and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Jonathan R. T. Davidson
JAMA. 2001;286(5):584-588.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

August 1, 2001
JAMA. 2001;286(5):611-612.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Darfur Refugees in Cairo: Mental Health and Interpersonal Conflict in the Aftermath of Genocide
Meffert and Marmar
J Interpers Violence 2009;24:1835-1848.
ABSTRACT  

Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Disability in Cambodia: Associations With Perceived Justice, Desire for Revenge, and Attitudes Toward the Khmer Rouge Trials
Sonis et al.
JAMA 2009;302:527-536.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Post-traumatic stress reactions among Rwandan children and adolescents in the early aftermath of genocide
Neugebauer et al.
Int J Epidemiol 2009;38:1033-1045.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Five Essential Elements of Immediate and Mid-Term Mass Trauma Intervention: Empirical Evidence
Hobfoll et al.
Focus 2009;7:221-242.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychological Health Before, During, and After an Economic Crisis: Results from Indonesia, 1993-2000
Friedman and Thomas
WORLD BANK ECON REV 2009;23:57-76.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Estimating Clinically Relevant Mental Disorders in a Rural and an Urban Setting in Postconflict Timor Leste
Silove et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008;65:1205-1212.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Mental Disorder and Associated Factors in Civilian Guatemalans With Disabilities Caused By the Internal Armed Conflict
Herrera Rivera et al.
Int J Soc Psychiatry 2008;54:414-424.
ABSTRACT  

Complex Sequelae of Psychological Trauma Among Kosovar Civilian War Victims
Morina and Ford
Int J Soc Psychiatry 2008;54:425-436.
ABSTRACT  

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Ethnoreligious Conflict in Jos, Nigeria
Obilom and Thacher
J Interpers Violence 2008;23:1108-1119.
ABSTRACT  

Coping with Loss and Bereavement in Post-war Tigray, Ethiopia
Nordanger
Transcultural Psychiatry 2007;44:545-565.
ABSTRACT  

Living in Religious Time and Space: Iraqi Refugees in Dearborn, Michigan
Shoeb et al.
Journal of Refugee Studies 2007;20:441-460.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Exposure to War Crimes and Implications for Peace Building in Northern Uganda
Vinck et al.
JAMA 2007;298:543-554.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Rates and Correlates of Seeking Mental Health Services Among Cambodian Refugees
Marshall et al.
AJPH 2006;96:1829-1835.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychological distress and resources among siblings and parents exposed to traumatic events
Punamaki et al.
International Journal of Behavioral Development 2006;30:385-397.
ABSTRACT  

Anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress in Iranian survivors of chemical warfare.
Hashemian et al.
JAMA 2006;296:560-566.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Health Services Utilization in Jerusalem Under Terrorism
Levav et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2006;163:1355-1361.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Impact of immigration detention and temporary protection on the mental health of refugees
STEEL et al.
Br. J. Psychiatry 2006;188:58-64.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mental Health of Cambodian Refugees 2 Decades After Resettlement in the United States
Marshall et al.
JAMA 2005;294:571-579.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychiatric and Cognitive Effects of War in Former Yugoslavia: Association of Lack of Redress for Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Reactions
Basoglu et al.
JAMA 2005;294:580-590.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Predisplacement and Postdisplacement Factors Associated With Mental Health of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons: A Meta-analysis
Porter and Haslam
JAMA 2005;294:602-612.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

"For Us It Is Like Living in the Dark": Ethiopian Women's Experiences With Domestic Violence
Sullivan et al.
J Interpers Violence 2005;20:922-940.
ABSTRACT  

Mother-Child Expression of Psychological Distress in War Trauma
Qouta et al.
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2005;10:135-156.
ABSTRACT  

Mental Health Symptoms Following War and Repression in Eastern Afghanistan
Scholte et al.
JAMA 2004;292:585-593.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Rwanda: Implications for Attitudes Toward Justice and Reconciliation
Pham et al.
JAMA 2004;292:602-612.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Somali and Oromo Refugees: Correlates of Torture and Trauma History
Jaranson et al.
AJPH 2004;94:591-598.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reconceptualizing the Sequelae of Political Torture: Limitations of a Psychiatric Paradigm
Kagee and Naidoo
Transcultural Psychiatry 2004;41:46-61.
ABSTRACT  

' Why Are There So Many Drums Playing until Dawn?' Exploring the Role of Gamba Spirits and Healers in the Post-War Recovery Period in Gorongosa, Central Mozambique
Igreja
Transcultural Psychiatry 2003;40:460-487.
ABSTRACT  

The Mandinka Nosological System in the Context of Post-Trauma Syndromes
Fox
Transcultural Psychiatry 2003;40:488-506.
ABSTRACT  

Psychiatric Disability Among Tortured Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal
Thapa et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2003;160:2032-2037.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Adult attachment and emotional responses to traumatic memories among Palestinian former political prisoners
Kanninen et al.
Traumatology 2003;9:127-154.
ABSTRACT  

Exposure to Terrorism, Stress-Related Mental Health Symptoms, and Coping Behaviors Among a Nationally Representative Sample in Israel
Bleich et al.
JAMA 2003;290:612-620.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Factors Associated With Poor Mental Health Among Guatemalan Refugees Living in Mexico 20 Years After Civil Conflict
Sabin et al.
JAMA 2003;290:635-642.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Validity issues in transcultural epidemiology
VAN OMMEREN
Br. J. Psychiatry 2003;182:376-378.
FULL TEXT  

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Hispanic Immigrants After the September 11th Attacks: Severity and Relationship to Previous Traumatic Exposure
Pantin et al.
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences 2003;25:56-72.
ABSTRACT  

Toward a Culture-Informed Epidemiology: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Transcultural Contexts
de Jong and van Ommeren
Transcultural Psychiatry 2002;39:422-433.
ABSTRACT  

Recognition and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Davidson
JAMA 2001;286:584-588.
FULL TEXT  





HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | CME | SUBMIT | SUBSCRIBE | HELP
CONDITIONS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
 
© 2001 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.