Trauma and suicidality in war affected communities

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • J. Jankovic - , Queen Mary University of London, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • S. Bremner - , Queen Mary University of London (Author)
  • M. Bogic - , Queen Mary University of London (Author)
  • D. Lecic-Tosevski - , University of Belgrade (Author)
  • D. Ajdukovic - , University of Zagreb (Author)
  • T. Franciskovic - , University of Rijeka (Author)
  • G. M. Galeazzi - , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Author)
  • A. Kucukalic - , University of Sarajevo (Author)
  • N. Morina - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • M. Popovski - , SS Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (Author)
  • M. Schützwohl - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • S. Priebe - , Queen Mary University of London (Author)

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to assess whether experiences of war trauma remain directly associated with suicidality in war affected communities when other risk factors are considered. Materials and methods: In the main sample 3313 participants from former Yugoslavia who experienced war trauma were recruited using a random sampling in five Balkan countries. In the second sample 854 refugees from former Yugoslavia recruited through registers and networking in three Western European countries. Sociodemographic and data on trauma exposure, psychiatric diagnoses and level of suicidality were assessed. Results: In the main sample 113 participants (3.4%) had high suicidality, which was associated with number of potentially traumatic war experiences (odds ratio 1.1) and war related imprisonment (odds ratio 3) once all measured risk factors were considered. These associations were confirmed in the refugee sample with a higher suicidality rate (10.2%). Discussion and conclusions: Number of potentially traumatic war experiences, in particular imprisonment, may be considered as a relevant risk factor for suicidality in people affected by war.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)514-520
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean psychiatry
Volume28
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 22986125

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • PTSD, Suicide, War