Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Wars and Repression at Mosul City-Iraq

Abstract

Background and Objectives: More than 27 years of wars, repression and sanction have led to human
suffering all over Iraq, this study was done to estimate the prevalence rates of symptoms of Post-traumatic
stress disorder ,and estimating the rate of exposure to traumatic events in Mosul City / Iraq.
Materials and Method: Across- sectional multi-cluster sample survey of 424 respondents aged 18 years
or older, conducted at Mosul city from January to March 2019 . 159 households were surveyed. Posttraumatic
stress disorder Symptoms and Trauma events measured by the Iraqi version of Harvard Trauma
Questionnaire.
Results: During the past 27 years ( 97.96% ) of respondents experienced at least 4 traumatic events, (
26.14%) experienced between 5-10 traumatic events and ( 17.51%) experienced more than 10 traumatic
events .The most common traumatic events experienced by respondents were home searching while they
were present , witnessing murder and murder of family members. The prevalence of respondents with
symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder der was (25.88%). Symptoms were more prevalent in women
than in men with p value < 0.001 for PTSD.
Conclusion: The findings of the study are concluded that the prevalence rate of symptoms of Post-traumatic
stress disorder were high. This finding suggest the need for volunteer and health care planner.In addition to
the need for trained mental health care professionals.