Patterns of Psychiatric Morbidity Before and After a War in Lebanon at Twelve Months Following Cessation of Hostilities

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study is a reassessment of the prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorders in a general population from South Lebanon conducted one year after the July war in 2007, and was thereafter compared to an assessment conducted one year pre-war in 2005 on the same population. This study aims to (1) assess for PTSD, depression and general health in South Lebanon 1 year after the month-long July war, and (2) to report on the results and compare them to pre-war findings in the same population.

Method: This study assessed PTSD, depression, and general health (GHQ) using the Beck Depression Inventory, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 681 citizens from six villages in South Lebanon using a cross sectional design through random sampling. This sample was compared to another sample of 632 Lebanese citizens interviewed in 2005 before the outbreak of the July war.

Results: Findings revealed a drop in PTSD symptoms in the 2007 sample at a rate of 17.9% from 24.1% in 2005. There was no significant change in depression except in the 60 and above age group. A drop in GHQ-28 scores in 2007 was also observed (4.2 in 2007 from 6.7 in 2005, p value = <0.001).

Conclusion: This reassessment is further evidence that prevalence of mental disorders is difficult to capture in war-torn areas. Social contexts may play a more important role in mental health outcomes of trauma events experienced in developing countries whose civilians suffer continuous armed conflict.

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