title: Exposure to "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland influences the clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigates the effect of exposure to "The Troubles" (the period of civil unrest from 1968 onwards) in Northern Ireland on symptomatology in people with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two participants were assessed on a number of psychiatric rating scales and on measures of trauma, including an instrument designed to assess exposure to "Troubles"-related trauma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  People with schizophrenia and a history of exposure to "The Troubles" had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, dissociative symptoms and number of admissions compared to those patients with no such exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Troubles"-related trauma has a direct effect on the presentation of schizophrenia in Northern Ireland. Specific therapeutic intervention may be required in order to help patients come to terms with their experiences.
authors: The Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. c.c.mulholland@qub.ac.uk
authors: Ciaran
authors: C
authors: Mulholland
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Boyle
authors: Ciaran
authors: C
authors: Shannon
authors: Uzma
authors: U
authors: Huda
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Clarke
authors: Ciaran
authors: C
authors: Meenagh
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Dempster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002960:Civil Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology