Psycho-Trauma, Psychosocial Adjustment, and Symptomatic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract Background Nearly three decades of conflict and frequent droughts and environmental hardships, have left 2.6 million of Somalis in displacement camps. Even though psychological impact of war and natural disasters are well documented, little is known about the unseen scars of psychological trauma in Internally displaced persons in Somalia. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression amongst internally displaced persons (IDPs), and examine association between displacement and these psychiatric conditions. Methodology A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 406 IDPs in Mogadishu. Harvard Trauma Questionnaire was used to determine levels of trauma exposure and PTSD, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 was used to estimate prevalence of depression. Multivariate and bivariate analysis was conducted to analyze the association of demographic and displacement variables on the outcomes of PTSD and depression. Results More than half (59%) of participants met the symptom criteria of depression, and nearly one third (32%) of respondents met the symptom criteria for PTSD. The most prevalent traumatic event was lack of food or water (80.2%). Important predictive factors in development of psychiatric morbidity were unemployment, cumulative traumatic exposure, frequency and duration of displacement. Conclusion The study revealed high levels of Depressive disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among internally displaced persons in Mogadishu. Furthermore, this study provided evidence to IDPs’ susceptibility to trauma exposure and lack of essential services and goods. Study also highlighted the importance of provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) service in IDP camps.

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P-962 - Determinants of post traumatic stress disorder in adults among internally displaced persons of Bajaur and Swat

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(12)75129-5 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

W.A. Akhunzada ◽

M. Khalil Akhter ◽

S. Zaman ◽

S. Ali Khan

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Internally Displaced Persons ◽

Displaced Persons ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Internally Displaced ◽

Post Traumatic

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The prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-07-2019-0071 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 159-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deborah Oyine Aluh ◽

Roland Nnaemeka Okoro ◽

Adamu Zimboh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Internally Displaced Persons ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Content Type ◽

Internally Displaced ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Post Traumatic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri. Design/methodology/approach The study was a cross-sectional study that took place among the six IDP camps located in Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State. A non-randomized technique was used to sample 1,200 respondents. Face-to-face interviews with selected members of households were carried out confidentially. The study used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Impact of Event Scale-6 which were translated to Kanuri. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed using SPSS version 21. Findings The response rate was 100 percent. In total, 96.1 percent (1,153) of the respondents were depressed, while 78 percent (936) of the respondents were symptomatic for PTSD. The prevalence rate of comorbid PTSD with depression was 68.1 percent (817). About one-third of the respondents had moderately severe depression (29.6 percent, n=355) while about one in ten of them were severely depressed (11.3 percent, n=136). The odds of being depressed was 3.308 higher in people aged 51–60 years compared to people between 18 and 20 years. Significant predictors of depression in the sampled population were screening positive for PTSD and being unemployed. Practical implications The high prevalence of depression and PTSD among the sampled population calls for structured interventions to deal with mental health problems. The study findings suggest the need for more research (preferably qualitative) on the mental health issues in this population. Originality/value This study contributes to the sparse available literature on the mental health of IDPs in Nigeria.

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