From war to classroom: PTSD and depression in formerly abducted youth in Uganda

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dc.contributor.authorWinkler, Nina
dc.contributor.authorRuf-Leuschner, Martina
dc.contributor.authorErtl, Verena
dc.contributor.authorPfeiffer, Anett
dc.contributor.authorSchalinski, Inga
dc.contributor.authorOvuga, Emilio
dc.contributor.authorNeuner, Frank
dc.contributor.authorElbert, Thomas
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-11T09:37:46Z
dc.date.available2022-03-11T09:37:46Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractTrained local screeners assessed the mental-health status of male and female students in Northern Ugandan schools.The study aimed to disclose potential differences in mental health-related impairment in two groups, former child soldiers (n D354) and other war-affected youth (nD489), as well as to separate factors predicting mental suffering in learners. Methods: Participants were randomly selected. We used the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale to assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for potential depression the respective section of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist with a locally validated cut-off. Results: Almost all respondents had been displaced at least once in their life. 30% of girls and 50% of the boys in the study reported past abduction history. Trauma exposure was notably higher in the group of abductees. In former child soldiers, a PTSD rate of 32% was remarkably higher than that for non-abductees (12%). Especially in girls rates of potential depression were double those in the group of former abductees (17%) than in the group of non-abductees (8%). In all groups, trauma exposure increased the risk of developing PTSD. A path-analytic model for developing PTSD and potential depression revealed both previous trauma exposure as well as duration of abduction to have significant influences on trauma-related mental suffering. Findings also suggest that in Northern Ugandan schools trauma spectrum disorders are common among war-affected learners. Conclusions: Therefore, it is suggested the school context should be used to provide mental-health support structures within the education system for war-affected youth at likely risk of developing war-related mental distress.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWinkler, N., Ruf-Leuschner, M., Ertl, V., Pfeiffer, A., Schalinski, I., Ovuga, E., ... & Elbert, T. (2015). From war to classroom: PTSD and depression in formerly abducted youth in Uganda. Frontiers in psychiatry, 6, 2. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00002en_US
dc.identifier.other10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00002
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/2699
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherFrontiers in psychiatryen_US
dc.subjectChild soldiersen_US
dc.subjectWar-affected youthen_US
dc.subjectPTSDen_US
dc.subjectWar-trauma exposureen_US
dc.subjectPost-conflict mental-health support programsen_US
dc.titleFrom war to classroom: PTSD and depression in formerly abducted youth in Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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