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Mental and physical health of Kosovar Albanians in their place of origin: a post-war 6-year follow-up study

Eytan, Ariel ; Guthmiller, Ann ; Durieux-Paillard, Sophie ; Loutan, Louis ; Gex-Fabry, Marianne

In: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2011, vol. 46, no. 10, p. 953-963

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    Titre
    • Mental and physical health of Kosovar Albanians in their place of origin: a post-war 6-year follow-up study
    Auteur
    • Eytan, Ariel. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 2, Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Guthmiller, Ann. International Organization for Migration (IOM), 17, Route des Morillons, 1211, Geneva 19, Switzerland
    • Durieux-Paillard, Sophie. Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, University Hospitals of Geneva, 4, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland
    • Loutan, Louis. Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, University Hospitals of Geneva, 4, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland
    • Gex-Fabry, Marianne. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 2, Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225, Geneva, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Inglese
    Publié dans
    • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2011, vol. 46, no. 10, p. 953-963. Springer-Verlag
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:319693
    Summary
    Purpose: Long-term outcome of traumatic experiences among war-exposed civilians living in their home country has been seldom documented. The present study examined change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequency and perceived physical and mental health in a cohort of Kosovar Albanians over 6years (2001-2007). Methods: Of 996 Albanian Kosovar civilians included in the 2001 survey, 551 subjects (55.3%) were recalled and interviewed in 2007. Diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive episode were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Subjective physical and mental health were investigated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36). A list of traumatic events adapted from the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and other stressful life events was also considered. Results: Posttraumatic stress disorder was significantly less frequent in 2007 than in 2001 (14.5% vs. 23.2%, p<0.001). For 18.0, 5.3 and 9.3% of participants, PTSD remitted, persisted and developed over the 6-year follow-up period, respectively. Ill health without having access to medical care and major changes in responsibilities at work were associated with both persistence and new occurrence of PTSD. While the SF-36 mental component summary score significantly improved (mean change +4.5, p<0.001), the physical component summary score did not change between 2001 and 2007, after adjustment for age (mean change −0.8, p=0.14). Conclusions: Results point at the importance of economic and health system reconstruction programs with respect to public health in post-conflict countries