Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Among Internally Displaced Persons in Mogadishu

Abstract

Background Nearly three decades of conflict and frequent droughts and environmental hardships left 2.6 million of Somalis in displacement camps. Even though psychological impact of war and natural disasters are well documented, little is known about the unseen scars of psychological trauma in Internally Displaced Persons in Somalia. The purpose of the study is to determine rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression amongst these internally displaced persons (IDPs), and examine association between displacement and these psychiatric conditions. Methodology A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 406 IDPs in Mogadishu. Harvard Trauma Questionnaire was used to determine levels of trauma exposure and PTSD, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 was used to estimate prevalence of depression. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to analyze the association of demographic and displacement variables on the outcomes of PTSD and depression. Results More than half (59%) of participants had symptom criteria for depression, and nearly one third (32%) of respondents met symptom criteria for PTSD. The most prevalent traumatic event was lack of food or water (80.2%). Important predictive factors in development of psychiatric morbidity were unemployment, cumulative traumatic exposure, frequency and duration of displacement.

Conclusion This study revealed high levels of Depressive disorder and Post-traumatic stress disorder among internally displaced persons in Mogadishu. Furthermore, this study provide evidence to IDPs’ susceptibility to trauma exposure and lack of essential services and goods. Study also highlighted the importance of provision of MHPSS services in IDP camps.