Factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression amongst internally displaced persons in northern Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundThe 20 year war in northern Uganda between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan government has resulted in the displacement of up to 2 million people within Uganda. The purpose of the study was to measure rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression amongst these internally displaced persons (IDPs), and investigate associated demographic and trauma exposure risk factors.MethodsA cross-sectional multi-staged, random cluster survey with 1210 adult IDPs was conducted in November 2006 in Gulu and Amuru districts of northern Uganda. Levels of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD were measured using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (original version), and levels of depression were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the association of demographic and trauma exposure variables on the outcomes of PTSD and depression.ResultsOver half (54%) of the respondents met symptom criteria for PTSD, and over two thirds (67%) of respondents met symptom criteria for depression. Over half (58%) of respondents had experienced 8 or more of the 16 trauma events covered in the questionnaire. Factors strongly linked with PTSD and depression included gender, marital status, distance of displacement, experiencing ill health without medical care, experiencing rape or sexual abuse, experiencing lack of food or water, and experiencing higher rates of trauma exposure.ConclusionThis study provides evidence of exposure to traumatic events and deprivation of essential goods and services suffered by IDPs, and the resultant effect this has upon their mental health. Protection and social and psychological assistance are urgently required to help IDPs in northern Uganda re-build their lives.

Prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt: associations with psychiatric disorders and HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Northern Uganda

“…Over 2 million people were displaced into internally displaced people's camps (IDPs) as a consequence of rape, torture, mutilation, destruction of property and many of the people including children were abducted (Roberts et al, 2008;Ovuga et al, 2008). Various studies have shown a high burden of mental disorders (Roberts et al, 2008, Ovuga et al, 2008, Vinck et al, 2007Pfeiffer et al, 2011), ostensibly as a result of civil conflict. For example, Roberts and colleagues reported that 58 % and 67 % of their respondents had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression respectively amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs).…”

The visibility of non-communicable diseases in Northern Uganda

“…Using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, 67% met symptom criteria for depression and 54% for PTSD. 13 More recent data on these conditions, in particular as people have been returning to their homes, are still missing.…”

Socio-demographic patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder in Medellin, Colombia and the context of lifetime trauma exposure

“…Gender differences in mental health responses have been found in populations exposed to multiple types of trauma, including those impacted by displacement and armed conflict. 61,[71][72][73][74][75] Different neural mechanisms in men and women have been proposed to explain these gender disparities. 76,77 In women, higher sensitivity to a corticotropin-releasing factor has been reported, 78 potentially producing higher rates of depression, peritraumatic fear, dissociation, and negative peritraumatic cognitions, in comparison to men's responses.…”