Post traumatic stress disorder and resilience in veterans who served in the South African border war

Abstract

Objective: The psychological impact of the South African border war on veterans has received little or no attention. This study determined the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and extent of resilience among a cohort of veterans. Method: Of 1527 former students who matriculated from a Johannesburg high school from 1975 to 1988, only 109 were reachable for convenience and snowballing recruitment into this study. An anonymous, internet-based questionnaire was used to obtain information on demography, combat exposure, drug and alcohol use, traumatic events in later life, and recourse to medication and counselling. The Impact of Event Scale -Revised (IES-R) assessed for PTSD and the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) measured resilience. Data were processed with STATA; version 11 statistical software package. Analysis included Chi square test and regression analysis. Results: The response rate was 49.5% (n=54). The prevalence of PTSD was 33% and significantly associated with combat exposure (p=.012). Despite high prevalence of PTSD in those exposed to combat, 94% showed normal to above-normal level of resilience. CD-RISC scores showed no association with the IES-R. Only current cannabis use was significantly linked with PTSD (p=.044). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of PTSD found in this sample was higher than in comparable international studies, this cohort of former SA national servicemen, showed high levels of resilience. The current use of cannabis within the context of prior exposure to military national service or combat should prompt clinicians to screen for the presence of PTSD-associated symptoms.

The mediating effect of resilience between family functioning and mental well-being in hemodialysis patients in Japan: a cross-sectional design

“…It is a personality characteristic that enhances individual adaptation and positively influences successful adaptation and coping [ 14 ]. The effects have been well documented for disaster survivors [ 15 ], patients with HIV [ 16 ], war veterans with PTSD [ 17 ], and so on. Researchers assert that personal factors such as resilience [ 15 ] and family support [ 18 ] could explain the differences in mental-health outcomes.…”

Impact of combat events on first responders: Experiences of the armed conflict in Uruzgan, Afghanistan

“…Being involved in an armed conflict, a mass casualty situation, a terrorist attack or a natural disaster like an earthquake, changes people. For many of those, these are life changing experiences [22][23][24][25]. This study tried to outline areas of anticipated difficulty in the reintegration experience, and to alert (mental) health practitioners to specific areas that could be problematic.…”

Combat Exposure and Self-Efficacy Predicting Psychological Distress Among Military Personnel Exposed to Boko-Haram insurgency: The Moderating Role of Unit Support

“…Research has shown that between 13 to 32% of combat veterans are likely to experience psychological problems after homecoming [5,6]. Particularly, studies among American and Chinese Dai J, et al [6] Cesur, Sabia & Tekin, South African [2] and Nigerian [7,8] combatants have shown that many military returnees from warzones suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition to PTSD, studies have also pointed out that exposure to unpleasant combat events can lead to symptoms of depression in military veterans Hoge CW, et al [9] [11], compromised immune system, risky health behaviors, cardiac-related problems, sleep difficulties and general burnout [1].…”

“…Globally speaking, military personnel returning from combat operations are faced with several psychosocial challenges capable of affecting their personal functioning and productivity. In recent times, however, empirical reports have shown astronomical rise in psychological consequences of war among military veterans who return from combat operations [1][2][3]. According to Mirowsky and Ross, psychological distress is a state of emotional suffering characterized by symptoms of anxiety and depression.…”