title: From War to Classroom: PTSD and Depression in Formerly Abducted Youth in Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trained local screeners assessed the mental-health status of male and female students in Northern Ugandan schools. The study aimed to disclose potential differences in mental health-related impairment in two groups, former child soldiers (n = 354) and other war-affected youth (n = 489), as well as to separate factors predicting mental suffering in learners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly selected. We used the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale to assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for potential depression the respective section of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist with a locally validated cut-off.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all respondents had been displaced at least once in their life. 30% of girls and 50% of the boys in the study reported past abduction history. Trauma exposure was notably higher in the group of abductees. In former child soldiers, a PTSD rate of 32% was remarkably higher than that for non-abductees (12%). Especially in girls rates of potential depression were double those in the group of former abductees (17%) than in the group of non-abductees (8%). In all groups, trauma exposure increased the risk of developing PTSD. A path-analytic model for developing PTSD and potential depression revealed both previous trauma exposure as well as duration of abduction to have significant influences on trauma-related mental suffering. Findings also suggest that in Northern Ugandan schools trauma spectrum disorders are common among war-affected learners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, it is suggested the school context should be used to provide mental-health support structures within the education system for war-affected youth at likely risk of developing war-related mental distress.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany ; Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ).
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Winkler
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany ; Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ).
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Ruf-Leuschner
authors: Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ) ; Department of Psychology, University of Bielefeld , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors: Verena
authors: V
authors: Ertl
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany ; Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ).
authors: Anett
authors: A
authors: Pfeiffer
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany.
authors: Inga
authors: I
authors: Schalinski
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University , Gulu , Uganda.
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: Ovuga
authors: Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ) ; Department of Psychology, University of Bielefeld , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Neuner
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany ; Vivo International ( www.vivo.org ).
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Elbert
keywords: PTSD; child soldiers; post-conflict mental-health support programs; war-affected youth; war-trauma exposure