Obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among civilian survivors of war

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Richard Klaghofer¹  Naser Morina¹  Ulrich Schnyder¹  Michael Rufer¹  Chantal Martin-Sölch²  Vita Sulaj³  Julia Müller⁴ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland;Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland;Psychiatric Hospital Königsfelden, Brugg, Switzerland;Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Münsterlingen, Switzerland;

关键词: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms;    Trauma;    Post-traumatic stress;    Civilian war survivors;    Refugee;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-016-0822-9

 received in 2015-09-18, accepted in 2016-04-19,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSeveral psychological sequelae have been identified in civilian war survivors. However, little is known about the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their relationship to trauma in this population.MethodFifty-one adult civilian survivors of the Kosovo War (28 males) who had immigrated to Switzerland completed the Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Scale, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Data were analysed using multiple regression analyses.ResultsOverall, 35 and 39 % of the sample scored above the cut-offs for likely obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, respectively. Participants with high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms were significantly more likely to have obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and vice versa. In multiple regression analysis, gender and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms were predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas number of traumatic life event types and depressive symptoms were not.ConclusionGiven the small sample size, the results of this study need to be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, a surprisingly high number of participants in our study suffered from both obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms, with obsessive-compulsive symptoms tending to be more pronounced in women. It remains, therefore, critical to specifically assess both obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms in civilian war survivors, and to provide persons afflicted with appropriate mental health care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Morina et al. 2016