title: Post-traumatic stress disorder in internally displaced people of Colombia: An ecological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been described as one of the most frequently reported mental condition among refugees and internally displaced populations (IDPs). Despite this, few has been reported about it in Latin America, even in Colombia, the country with the highest number of IDPs in the in the world.
  
  
  METHODS
  This ecological study assessed incidence and differences of PTSD in general population and IDPs in Colombia and its departments (32) during 2009-2012. Epidemiological data was collected from the National Health Records System (RIPS), retrieving the ICD-10 code F43.1 in both populations. We estimated PTSD incidence rates on both populations (cases/100,000 pop), using reference population of the IDPs (SISDHES and the general population was taken from the (DANE). Incidence rates ratios were calculated comparing both populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general population, 6619 cases of PTSD occurred (14.5 cases/100,000 pop, 95%CI 14.0-15.0) while 177 among IDPs (73.8 cases/100,000 pop, 95%CI 63.0-85.0). PTSD was 5.1 times higher among IDPs than in general population. Ranging from 1.6 (Tolima) to 15.8 (Quindío) (median: 4.4). In departments with higher incidence, also it was in IDPs (r2= 0.4899; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study evidenced a significantly higher PTSD incidence among IDPs, when compared with general population in the same territories. This has relevant implications for screening, diagnosis and management of PTSD among IDPs, especially in high incidence areas. More studies are required to improve the understanding of this condition among vulnerable populations, as well to provide better medical and psychological interventions and for the development of public policies in countries, such as Colombia, with IDPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lagos-Gallego
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Segura
authors.affiliation: Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lagos-Grisales
authors.affiliation: Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Committee on Travel Medicine, Asociación Panamericana de Infectología, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Comission on Scientific Publications, Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Study Group for Infections in Travellers and Migrants (ESGITM), Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: arodriguezm@utp.edu.co.
authors.forename: Alfonso J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Morales
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Colombia; Epidemiology; Internally displaced people; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Psychiatry