Posttraumatic stress disorder and the use of general health services in postwar Kosovo.
Studies conducted in high-income countries have demonstrated that posttraumatic stress symptoms are positively correlated with increased use of general health services; however, comparative data are lacking in postwar settings. This survey was conducted in Kosovo after the end of the conflict; 996 people, age 16 or older, were interviewed. Older age, lower education level, worse physical health, and current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were associated with higher use of any health services. After adjusting for gender, age, place of residence, type of education, poverty, refugee status, and subjective physical health, PTSD remained associated with an increased use of most health care services. Our results underline the importance of taking into account PTSD when restoring health services in postwar countries.
Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. Ariel.Eytan@hcuge.ch
Ariel
A
Eytan
Letizia
L
Toscani
Louis
L
Loutan
Patrick A
PA
Bovier
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology