Revue internationale de santé mentale et de psychiatrie

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Risk among Iraqi Displaced Children

Riyadh K Lafta, Saba Dhiaa, Maha A Al-Nuaimi and  Nuha Hachim

Millions of people around the world had been forced to flee their homes due to violence. High rates of mental problem have been reported among those populations. Iraq is an exemplar of the mental health needs of children in conflict-affected countries. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted targeting primary school students in the main three Iraqi governorates (Baghdad, Duhok, and Erbil) to which most of the displaced families fled. A standard questionnaire form adapted from the 10-item Trauma Screening Questionnaire -TSQ/ child version was used. The prevalence of PTSD was estimated to be 83.3%, which seems to increase with age, more in females, and was associated with large family size and frequent displacements. There was a significant association between PTSD and the occurrence of violent events in the family (death, injury or arrest) during or after displacement. These findings call the attention for an urgent humanitarian interference to help the traumatized Iraqi children.