Trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence among Yazidi, Christian and Muslim asylum seekers and refugees displaced to Iraqi Kurdistan.
Title | Trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence among Yazidi, Christian and Muslim asylum seekers and refugees displaced to Iraqi Kurdistan. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2020 |
Authors | Richa S, Herdane M, Dwaf A, Khalil RBou, Haddad F, Khoury REl, Zarzour M, Kassab A, Dagher R, El-Hage W |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 15 |
Issue | 6 |
Pagination | e0233681 |
Date Published | 2020 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Christianity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Indigenous Peoples, Iraq, Islam, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Refugees, Self Report, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Young Adult |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: There is unreliable, and negligible information on the mental health and trauma-exposure of asylum-seekers and displaced refugees in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how responsible the ethno-religious origins are, for the prevalence of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in displaced Iraqi asylum-seekers and refugees residing in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.METHODS: Structured interviews with a cross-sectional sample of 150 individuals, comprised of three self-identified ethno-religious groups (50 participants in each): Christians, Muslims, and Yazidis.RESULTS: 100% prevalence of trauma exposure and 48.7% of current PTSD among refugees, 70% PTSD rate of Yazidi participants, which is significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to 44% of Muslim participants and 32% of Christian participants. These findings were corroborated using the self-rated PTSD, DSM-5 Checklist, with more severe PTSD symptom scores (p < 0.001) obtained among Yazidis (43.1; 19.7), compared to Muslims (31.3; 20.1) and Christians (29.3; 17.8). Self-rated depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were also higher (p < 0.007) among Yazidis (12.3; 8.2) and Muslims (11.7; 5.9), compared to Christians (8.1; 7). |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0233681 |
Alternate Journal | PLoS One |
PubMed ID | 32579560 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC7313973 |