scholarly journals Post-traumatic stress reactions in survivors of the 2011 massacre on Utøya Island, Norway

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grete Dyb ◽  
Tine K. Jensen ◽  
Egil Nygaard ◽  
Øivind Ekeberg ◽  
Trond H. Diseths ◽  
...  

BackgroundAlthough youths in many countries have been exposed to terrorism, few studies have examined early risk and protective factors for the subsequent development of mental health problems.AimsTo investigate the levels of post-traumatic stress in survivors of the 2011 massacre on Ut⊘ya Island compared with the general population in Norway, and to identify predictive factors.MethodFour hundred and ninety survivors were invited to participate. Structured face-to-face interviews were performed 4–5 months after the attack.ResultsThere were 325 study participants (response rate 66%). Survivors had been highly exposed to danger and loss. Post-traumatic stress levels were more than six times higher in survivors than in the general population. Predictors were female gender, minority ethnic status, high level of trauma exposure, pain, the loss of someone close and social support.ConclusionsSurvivor characteristics that can be assessed in the early aftermath of a terrorist attack strongly predict the subsequent mental health problems of exposed youths. The highly elevated symptoms observed were largely attributable to the traumatic experience and reflect the mental health costs of the terrorist attack.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golbahar Akoondzadeh ◽  
Abbas Ebadi ◽  
Esmat Nouhi ◽  
Hamid Hojjati

INTRODUCTION & AIM: Post-traumatic stress disorder causes distress and dysfunction in the life of the wives of veterans, which causes physical and mental health problems with the continuation of life. This study examined the life experiences of wives of war veterans with post-traumatic stress.MATERIALS & METHODS: This qualitative study using qualitative content analysis with the participation of 16 wives of war veterans with post-traumatic stress in Golestan province in Iran was conducted in 2015. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and by purposive sampling and continued until data saturation. Data analysis was done continuously and simultaneously with data collection by content analysis method.FINDINGS: Four main categories and nine sub-categories including mental health (mental health problems and the memories), physical function (physical injuries and sleep disorders), captivity in life (humiliation, lack of independence in life), isolation (impairment in social interaction), dysfunction life (damage to the sons, the defect in family interactions) were the main findings of this study, which causes health threats.CONCLUSION: Spouses of veterans have many problems in their daily lives and caregivers by understanding their needs and enhancing information systems, and social support can improve the function of their life.


2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Campbell ◽  
Idit Albert ◽  
Manuela Jarrett ◽  
Majella Byrne ◽  
Anna Roberts ◽  
...  

Background: Mental health problems have been found to be more prevalent in prison populations, and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found in sentenced populations compared to the general population. Evidence-based treatment in the general population however has not been transferred and empirically supported into the prison system. Aims: The aim of this manuscript is to illustrate how trauma focused work can be applied in a prison setting. Method: This report describes a two-phased approach to treating PTSD, starting with stabilization, followed by an integration of culturally appropriate ideas from narrative exposure therapy (NET), given that the traumas were during war and conflict, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT). Results: PTSD and scores on paranoia scales improved between start and end of treatment; these improvements were maintained at a 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: This case report1 illustrates successful treatment of multiple incident PTSD in a prison setting using adaptations to TF-CBT during a window of opportunity when individuals are more likely to be free from substances and live in relative stability. Current service provision and evidence-based practice for PTSD is urgently required in UK prisons to allow individuals to engage in opportunities to reduce re-offending, free from mental health symptoms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid A. Mufti ◽  
Farooq Naeem ◽  
Haroon Rasheed Chaudry ◽  
Asad Haroon ◽  
Farida Saifi ◽  
...  

There was a large influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan during the 1980s and in particular after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. That refugees have high rates of mental health problems has been well established (e.g. De Jong et al, 2000) — causes include migration, often with painful transit experiences, difficult camp life and the experience of major trauma, including multiple losses of family members as well as the loss of property and traditional lifestyle. However, the Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been poorly studied. Although the mental health problems of Afghan refugees have been studied in the West, the numbers of participants in such research have been relatively small.


2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110244
Author(s):  
Astrid M. A. Eriksen ◽  
Marita Melhus ◽  
Bjarne K. Jacobsen ◽  
Berit Schei ◽  
Ann-Ragnhild Broderstad

Aims: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with psychological distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) among Sami and non-Sami and to explore whether the association between IPV and mental health is modified by exposure to childhood violence (CV). These issues are scarcely studied among the Sami. Methods: This study was based on the cross-sectional SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey, a part of the Population-based Study on Health and Living Conditions in Regions with Sami and Norwegian Populations (SAMINOR). Chi-square tests and two-sample t-tests were used to test differences between groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to explore the association between IPV/CV and continuous scores of psychological distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Results: Experiences of IPV (emotional, physical, and/or sexual) were reported by 12.8% of women and 2.0% of men. A significantly higher proportion of Sami women reported exposure to emotional (12.4 v. 9.5%, p = 0.003), physical (11.6 v. 6.9%, p < 0.001), and any IPV (17.2 v. 11.8%, p < 0.001) compared to non-Sami women. There were no ethnic differences in sexual IPV among women (2%). Exposure to IPV was associated with a higher score of psychological distress and PTS and was highest among those exposed to both IPV and CV. Conclusions: Sami women reported the highest prevalence of IPV. The association between IPV/CV and mental health problems did not differ by ethnicity or gender. The most severe mental health problems were observed for those who were exposed to both IPV and CV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyun Lee ◽  
Dayoung Lee ◽  
Soyoen Hyun ◽  
Ji Sun Hong ◽  
Chang-Hoon Kim ◽  
...  

Experiences of infectious diseases cause stressful and traumatic life events, hence, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients could suffer from various mental health problems requiring psychological support services. This study investigates the severity of mental health problems among confirmed COVID-19 patients. From March to November 2020, we collected the data from 118 COVID-19 patients who voluntarily participated in the National Center for Disaster Trauma's online mental health assessment consisting of self-report scales like Primary Care of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder screen (PC-PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), and P4 Suicidality Screener. For control, 116 other disaster-experienced and 386 non-COVID-19-experienced participants were recruited. The COVID-19 patients showed more severe symptoms including post-traumatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms than control groups across all four screening scales (p &lt; 0.001). Regarding high-risk, COVID-19 patients had an increased association with high-risk compared to the comparison groups (PC-PTSD: OR = 24.16, 95% CI = 13.52–43.16 p &lt; 0.001; PHQ-9: OR = 14.45, 95% CI = 8.29–25.19, p &lt; 0.001; GAD-7: OR=20.71, 95% CI = 10.74–39.96, p &lt; 0.001; PHQ-15: OR = 5.65, 95% CI = 3.44–9.25, p &lt; 0.001; P4: OR = 14.67, 95% CI = 8.95–25.07, p &lt; 0.001). This study's results imply that there is a high-risk of overall mental health problems, especially stronger associations of post-traumatic stress symptoms, in COVID-19 patients. These findings help inform practitioners about the psychological responses to COVID-19 experiences and to prepare appropriate interventions and services for the incremental number of confirmed cases.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panos Vostanis

Children exposed to violence are at high risk of developing a range of mental health problems, predominantly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression (Yule, 1999). Children in war zones can be affected not only directly but also indirectly, for example through their basic health needs not being met, the loss of family members, disruption of social networks, internal displacement and their parents’ responses.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-201
Author(s):  
Herbert C. Covey ◽  
Leah McCoy Grubb ◽  
Robert J. Franzese ◽  
Scott Menard

The present study investigates how adolescent exposure to violence (AEV), in the form of parental physical abuse, witnessing parental violence, and exposure to violence in the neighborhood, is related to adult anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, controlling for more general adolescent violent victimization and for self-reports and parent reports of mental health problems in adolescence, on a national household-based probability sample of individuals who were adolescents in the mid-1970s and who were followed through early adulthood in the early 2000s. The results suggest that AEV is associated with mental health problems in adolescence but not, controlling for other variables, in adulthood, but there is continuity in mental health problems associated with AEV from adolescence to adulthood.


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