Obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among civilian survivors of war.
BACKGROUND
Several psychological sequelae have been identified in civilian war survivors. However, little is known about the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their relationship to trauma in this population.


METHODS
Fifty-one adult civilian survivors of the Kosovo War (28 males) who had immigrated to Switzerland completed the Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Scale, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Data were analysed using multiple regression analyses.


RESULTS
Overall, 35 and 39% of the sample scored above the cut-offs for likely obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, respectively. Participants with high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms were significantly more likely to have obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and vice versa. In multiple regression analysis, gender and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms were predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas number of traumatic life event types and depressive symptoms were not.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the small sample size, the results of this study need to be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, a surprisingly high number of participants in our study suffered from both obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms, with obsessive-compulsive symptoms tending to be more pronounced in women. It remains, therefore, critical to specifically assess both obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress symptoms in civilian war survivors, and to provide persons afflicted with appropriate mental health care.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland. naser.morina@usz.ch.
Naser
N
Morina
Psychiatric Hospital Königsfelden, Brugg, Switzerland.
Vita
V
Sulaj
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
Ulrich
U
Schnyder
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
Richard
R
Klaghofer
Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Münsterlingen, Switzerland.
Julia
J
Müller
Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Chantal
C
Martin-Sölch
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
Michael
M
Rufer
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D063826:Kosovo; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013557:Switzerland; D014857:Warfare
Civilian war survivors; Obsessive-compulsive symptoms; Post-traumatic stress; Refugee; Trauma