title: Trauma associated with civil conflict and posttraumatic stress disorder: evidence from the Northern Ireland study of health and stress.
abstract: The authors provide epidemiological estimates of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and associated mental disorders in Northern Ireland (NI) with a focus on the impact of civil conflict using data from the NI Study of Health and Stress (NISHS), a representative epidemiological survey of adults in NI. Overall 60.6% had a lifetime traumatic event, and 39.0% experienced a presumed conflict-related event. Men were significantly more likely to experience any traumatic event and most conflict-related event types (p < .05). The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of PTSD were 8.8% and 5.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among men and women who experienced a conflict-related trauma (46.0% and 55.9%, respectively) was significantly higher than the prevalence among men and women who did not experience this type of traumatic event (27.2% and 31.1%, respectively). Given the public health burden posed by PTSD and additional impact of conflict, specific attention must be paid to the policy, service, and clinical challenge of delivering evidence-based treatments in the wake of a tumultuous period of conflict.
authors: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Ulster, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. bp.bunting@ulster.ac.uk
authors: Brendan P
authors: BP
authors: Bunting
authors: Finola R
authors: FR
authors: Ferry
authors: Samuel D
authors: SD
authors: Murphy
authors: Siobhan M
authors: SM
authors: O'Neill
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Bolton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002960:Civil Disorders; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult