War experiences and war-related distress in Bosnia and Herzegovina eight years after war.
(65/136)
AIM: To examine the relationship between war experiences and war-related distress in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS: The survey was performed in the late 2003 on a representative sample of 3313 respondents. The face-to-face interviews included 15 items on war-related distress and 24 items on war experiences. From these items we developed the War-related Distress Scale, the Direct War Experiences Scale, and the Indirect War Experiences Scale. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between war-related distress symptoms and war experiences variables, controlling for a range of other variables. RESULTS: Almost half of the respondents did not report any war-related distress symptoms, while about 13% reported 7 or more symptoms. Direct war experiences had a significant effect on war-related distress even eight years after the war, while indirect war experiences showed no significant effect on war-related distress. We found that marital status weakly decreased war-related distress, while household size increased it. CONCLUSION: Direct war experiences seem to have a long-lasting traumatic effect on a substantial number of residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (+info)
The Republic of Srpska Iodine Deficiency Survey 2006.
(66/136)
OBJECTIVE: A survey related to iodine deficiency in the Republic of Srpska was first conducted in 1999 and resulted in the adoption of regulations concerning the quality of salt for human consumption. In order to reassess iodine status, we conducted the Republic of Srpska Iodine Deficiency Survey in 2006. DESIGN: The survey was conducted in a sample of 1,200 schoolchildren using parameters recommended by WHO, UNICEF and ICCIDD: palpation of thyroid gland, iodine urinary excretion, thyroid utrasonography and content of iodine in salt. RESULTS: The goiter prevalence in the total group indicated mild iodine deficiency in the Republic of Srpska, whereas urinary iodine excretion suggested iodine sufficiency. Only 35.7% of salt samples were adequately iodinated, 51.2% were hypo-iodinated and 13.1% were hyper-iodinated. Of the salt samples tested, 40.9% were iodinated using potassium iodide, despite the fact that this method of salt iodination is forbidden by regulations related to the quality of salt for human consumption. Higher prevalence of goiter and lower urinary iodine content was found in rural areas compared to urban ones, although the iodine content of salt did not differ between these two areas. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the Republic of Srpska has progressed from moderate (1999) to mild iodine deficiency with a wide range in the urinary iodine excretion values. However, the salt for human consumption is of low quality. The higher prevalence of goiter and the lower urinary iodine values in rural areas compared to urban ones may be attributed to differences in salt usage and/or nutritional factors. (+info)
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in Bosnian refugees 3 1/2 years after resettlement.
(67/136)
This study describes the evolution of trauma-related symptoms over 3 1/2 years in a group of Bosnian refugees. Twenty-one refugees received standardized psychological assessments shortly after arriving in the United States and then 1 year and 3 1/2 years later. Of these refugees, 76% met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at baseline, 33% at 1 year, and 24% at 3 1/2 years. PTSD severity scores in women refugees were higher than scores in men at all three evaluation time points. At the 3 1/2-year evaluation, 44% of women and 8% of men met criteria for PTSD and no correlation was found between PTSD symptom severity and either age or level of trauma exposure. A significant inverse correlation was found between Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores and PTSD severity scores. Refugees who reported better mastery of the English language had significantly higher GAF scores. Although PTSD symptom severity decreased over time, most refugees continued to have at least one or more trauma-related symptoms and 24% still met criteria for PTSD after 3 1/2 years in the United States. Women refugees and those who had not mastered the English language appeared to be more vulnerable to persisting psychological effects of trauma. (+info)
Psychological problems in children of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder in Bosnia and Herzegovina: cross-sectional study.
(68/136)
AIM: To assess psychological problems in children as reported by their veteran fathers with war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: The study group consisted of 154 veterans with war-related PTSD who were treated at the Mostar University Hospital. The control group consisted of 77 veterans without war-related PTSD who were selected from veteran associations by the snowball method. General Demographic Questionnaire, the first and fourth module of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Bosnia and Herzegovina version, and the Questionnaire on Developmental, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems in Children, created specifically for the needs of this study, were used to collect data on veterans' perception of psychological problems in their children. RESULTS: In comparison with veterans without PTSD, veterans with PTSD reported significantly more developmental (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-3.73), behavioral (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.53-10.03), and emotional problems (OR, 17.74; 95% CI, 2.40-131.10) in their children. CONCLUSION: Veterans with war-related PTSD more often reported developmental problems in their children. Father's PTSD may have long-term and long-lasting consequences on the child's personality. (+info)
Changes in plasma lipid concentrations and risk of coronary artery disease in army veterans suffering from chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.
(69/136)
AIM: To test the differences in serum lipid concentrations between veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and veterans without PTSD. METHODS: We determined plasma lipid parameters and calculated risk factors for 50 veterans in the PTSD group and 50 veterans in the non-PTSD group. Trauma exposure, coping strategies, and quality of life were assessed with Life Stressor List, Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life Scale, and Folkman-Lazarus Coping Strategies Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in the exposure to combat trauma. PTSD group had significantly lover education than non-PTSD group (10.6+/-1.8 vs 12.4+/-2.6 years, P=0.007) and lower monthly income per family member (euro67.8+/-51.3 vs euro281.9+/-208.2, P<0.001). PTSD group had significantly higher levels of all plasma lipid parameters (cholesterol: 6.54+/-1.24 vs 5.40+/-1.09 mmol/L, P<0.001; triglycerides: 2.55+/-0.68 vs 1.73+/-0.77 mmol/L, P<0.001; very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol: 1.14+/-0.32 vs 0.78+/-0.35 mmol/L, P<0.001; low density lipoprotein-cholesterol: 4.49+/-1.06 vs 3.46+/-0.93 mmol/L, P<0.001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in PTSD group (0.96+/-0.18 vs 1.15+/-0.24 mmol/L, P<0.001). Established risk factor for arteriosclerosis (6.96+/-1.19 vs 4.71+/-0.88, P<0.001) and Adult Treatment Panel III ten years risk for coronary disease (19.44+/-7.27% vs 9.74+/-4.10%, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the PTSD group. Secondary traumatization was significantly more frequent in the PTSD group (3.8+/-5.7 vs 1.3+/-4.7 events; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic PTSD is associated with dyslipidemia, leading to an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Environmental factors and coping strategies should be considered as important factors for the occurrence and persistence of PTSD. (+info)
Bullying among school children in postwar bosnia and herzegovina: cross-sectional study.
(70/136)
AIM: To compare the prevalence and characteristics of bullying between two towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina-Stolac, which was exposed to firearm conflict during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Posusje, which was outside of the active combat zone. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included 484 primary school pupils attending 4th-8th grade of elementary school, 217 (44.8%) of them from Stolac and 267 (55.2%) from Posusje. The pupils were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire on the experience of bullying. RESULTS: Every sixth pupil (16.4%) experienced at least one form of bullying almost every day, while 34 (7.0%) pupils constantly bullied other children. Sixth-eighth graders were more often bullies than 4th-5th graders (P=0.044). Girls were most often victims was of bullying, while boys were most often bullies (P=0.036). The expected difference in bullying between the two towns was not observed, except for older pupils in Posusje, who were more violent than their peers in Stolac (P=0.044). Among the analyzed variables of sex, age, town, and school achievement, only male sex was significant predictor of bullying (P=0.010), increasing the relative risk by 3.005 times. CONCLUSION: Bullying among primary school pupils did not differ between areas that experienced war activities in 1992-1995. Our results could be useful in the introduction of specific prevention measures against bullying in postwar situation. (+info)
Social support and PTSD symptoms in war-traumatized women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(71/136)
OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between social support and PTSD symptoms in women traumatized by the war and postwar social insecurity in Herzegovina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The experimental group consisted of 187 randomly selected women living in Mostar, who were exposed to a wide spectrum of traumatic events during the war. The control group included 180 women living in the area surrounding Mostar who were not directly exposed to war destruction. Demographic data were obtained and a battery of psychological tests was used to measure the level of war traumatization and PTSD symptoms, along with the perception of social support. RESULTS: Women in the experimental group had significantly lower levels of perceived social support from friends (t=2.91; p<0.05) and coworkers (t=2.30; p<0.05). However, its protective significance for all levels of posttraumatic symptoms was strong, even stronger than social support from the family. Of all the sources of emotional social support, low level of perceived support from friends is the only significant predictor of PTSD. CONCLUSION: The sources of social support which the traumatized women drew from family, friends and coworkers change their significance depending on their availability. These sources are a strong predictive factor of PTSD development. (+info)
Mental health care of psychotraumatized persons in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina--experiences from Tuzla Canton.
(72/136)
BACKGROUND: Majority of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) residents were exposed to cumulative traumatic events during and after the (1992-1995) war, which demanded emergency organizing of psychosocial support as well as psychiatric-psychological treatment of psychotraumatized individuals. OBJECTIVES: To describe organizing of psychosocial help during and after the BH war, institutional treatment of psychotraumatized in the frame of mental health service reform program with an overview on the model of psychosocial support and psychiatry-psychological treatment of psychotraumatized persons of Tuzla Canton region. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The retrospective analysis of functioning in the Department for traumatic stress disorders on the Psychiatry Clinic in Tuzla for the 1999-2003 period has been described in regard of number, gender, age and trauma related mental disorders of referred patients. RESULTS: In the observed period, 8.329 of patients in the outpatient care program were included, 617 of inpatients were treated in the Clinic, while 301 of patients in the Partial hospitalization program were included. Mean +/- standard deviation of patients' age was 45+/-8.06 years. More psychotraumatized women (60.8%) were encompassed in the partial hospitalization program than in inpatients (23.9%) or outpatients (18.3%) care programs. In regard of trauma related mental disorders, majority outpatients had Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in co morbidity with other mental disorders (72.5%), PTSD was presented amongst the majority of inpatients (64.5%) and in partial hospitalization program there were (47.5%) patients with PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of psychotraumatized persons, in the organizing of health care system schema in postwar Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaningful obstacles are presented still today on the both, social and political level, despite mental health service reform performed in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The stigmatization of mental health issues is an important problem in treatment of traumatized individuals especially among war veterans. The lack a single Center for psychotrauma in postwar BH shows absence of political will in BH to resolve the problem of war veterans with trauma related psychological disorders. (+info)