Psychiatric comorbidity and PTSD-related health problems in war veterans: Cross-sectional study

Klarić, Miro; Lovrić, Sanjin; Ćorić, Martina Krešić; Galić, Kristina; Ćorić, Sanda Radanović; Frančišković, Tanja

doi:10.1016/j.ejpsy.2017.09.005

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Kovačić Petrović et al ( 7 ) reported that 78% of them had at least one (additional) somatic disorder that affected their general quality of life. A similar situation is found in veteran PTSD patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 45% presented with chronic somatic diseases ( 8 ). One-third of Croatian veteran PTSD patients presented with some stress-related coronary disease ( 9 ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Inner Peace needs of male psychiatric patients in post-war Croatia are associated with their needs to clarify open issues in their life and their needs for forgiveness

Glavas,

Büssing,

Baumann

2023

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundMore than 25 years after the end of the Balkan war, many people belonging to the post-war population are still traumatized by the war events and have been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychiatric diagnoses. We were interested in their Inner Peace needs, how these relate to indicators of mental health, and their needs to clarify open processes in their lives and to forgive and be forgiven.Materials and methodsIn a cross-sectional survey with standardized questionnaires (i.e., SpNQ, PCL-M, HADS, and BMLSS), 638 male patients who were treated in seven psychiatric centers in Croatia were enrolled. 68% were diagnosed with PTSD and 32% had other psychiatric diagnoses. Most had actively participated in the Balkan war (79%), and 60% for the whole war period.ResultsStrong needs to “immerse into beauty of nature” were stated by 47%, to “dwell at a place of quietness and peace” by 66%, and to “find inner peace” by 57%. These Inner Peace needs were highest in men treated with PTSD diagnoses as compared to men with other psychiatric diagnoses and were slightly lower in men who were active during the whole war period as compared to shorter phases of war participation. Regression analyses with Inner Peace needs as a dependent variable revealed that Clarification/Forgiveness needs were the best predictor, with further influences of PTSD symptoms and life satisfaction, explaining altogether 49% of the variance. The best predictors of their PTSD symptoms were life satisfaction, perceived burden, depressive symptoms, Inner Peace needs, religious trust, and duration of war participation, explaining 60% of the variance.ConclusionIn Croatian male war participants in clinical treatment decades after the war, Inner Peace needs indicate their ongoing intention to let go of their disturbing experiences and to find states of inner peace, particularly at specific places of quietness and peace. These needs can be considered metaphors for longing for wholeness, integrity, and safety, in contrast to the ongoing impact of unresolved issues. Thus, apart from psychotherapeutic treatment, sheltered places of nature, inspiration, and reconciliation might be elements to improve the difficult situation of post-war victims still suffering from their experiences.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Inner Peace needs of male psychiatric patients in post-war Croatia are associated with their needs to clarify open issues in their life and their needs for forgiveness

Glavas,

Büssing,

Baumann

2023

Front. Public Health

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“…11 24 Comorbidities such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders may negatively impact on the clinician's ability to diagnose PTSD. [24][25][26] Furthermore, limited access to mental healthcare, and severe shortage of trained or professional mental healthcare staff hampers the identification and treatment of PTSD. An average of 1.4 mental health workers are available per 100 000 persons in Africa compared with the global average of 9 per 100 000.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, there is a general lack of knowledge that PTSD is a medical condition, creating a further barrier to seeking care 11 24. Comorbidities such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders may negatively impact on the clinician’s ability to diagnose PTSD 24–26. Furthermore, limited access to mental healthcare, and severe shortage of trained or professional mental healthcare staff hampers the identification and treatment of PTSD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-traumatic stress disorder psychological interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review of the literature

et al. 2022

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IntroductionUntreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results in considerable morbidity and higher risk of mortality. However, little is being done to treat PTSD in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) settings where rates of PTSD are likely to be elevated due to mass exposure of the population to traumatic events. This systematic review aims to summarise available evidence on the efficacy of psychological therapies for PTSD in SSA.Methods and analysisA systematic search of the literature will be conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, PsychInfo, EMBASE and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials using keywords and synonyms related to ‘PTSD’, ‘psychological therapies’ and ‘SSA’. Studies will be included if they were conducted in SSA and used a randomised controlled trial design. Two researchers will screen the studies for eligibility to be included, and data on intervention types, population, comorbidities, comparison group intervention and PTSD outcomes will be extracted from those included. Risk of bias will be assessed using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (version 2). Narrative synthesis of data will be conducted and pooled effect estimates calculated.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required as this is a protocol of a systematic review of available data. Findings will be disseminated to the scientific community through peer-reviewed publications and presentation at conferences.PROSPERO registrationCRD42020181638.

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“…Of the private hospital treated psychiatric disorders, 8.1% of overnight admissions are for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Private Psychiatric Hospital Data Reporting and Analysis Service [PPHDRAS], 2019). On its own PTSD often results in significant psychiatric distress, but frequently co-occurs with other chronic conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and somatic comorbidities (Klaric et al, 2017). In addition, an estimated 70% of adults with PTSD report trauma-related nightmares, whereby the person experiences an extremely dysphoric dream, during which they relive their previous trauma (Koffel et al, 2016).…”

Section: Theoretical and Research Basis For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy for Trauma-Related Nightmares With Psychiatric Inpatients: A Case Series

Reiter

Humphreys

2020

Clinical Case Studies

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Research has shown that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent diagnosis for psychiatric patients, yet individualized care and treatment is limited in the inpatient acute care sector. Two case studies are presented which examine the use of Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT) for chronic trauma-related nightmares, within a private acute care inpatient psychiatric hospital setting. ERRT is empirically supported with efficacy for veteran and civilian populations, however no research to date has been conducted with psychiatric inpatients. Two participants diagnosed with PTSD, suffering distressing trauma-related nightmares, completed ERRT over three sessions during their psychiatric hospital admission, with the aim of reducing the frequency and severity of nightmares and related psychological symptoms. PTSD, depression, sleep quality and quantity, and nightmare frequency and related distress, were measured pre-treatment, during treatment, and follow-up at one, 3 and 6 months. Only one participant reported ongoing nightmares by the third week of the intervention, with both participants reporting an absence of nightmares at the one and 3-month follow-ups, but mixed results by the 6-month follow-up. One participant also reported a reduction in PTSD symptoms and a mild improvement in depression. The results offer some preliminary support for the provision of ERRT for the treatment of trauma-related nightmares for psychiatric inpatients.

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Psychiatric comorbidity and PTSD-related health problems in war veterans: Cross-sectional study

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Inner Peace needs of male psychiatric patients in post-war Croatia are associated with their needs to clarify open issues in their life and their needs for forgiveness

Inner Peace needs of male psychiatric patients in post-war Croatia are associated with their needs to clarify open issues in their life and their needs for forgiveness

Post-traumatic stress disorder psychological interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review of the literature

Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy for Trauma-Related Nightmares With Psychiatric Inpatients: A Case Series

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