Affective and Psychotic Disorders in War-Torn Eastern Part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bives Mutume Vivalya,Wilson Mugizi,Rock Kasereka Masuka,Germain Manzekele Bin Kitoko,Martial Mumbere Vagheni,Scholastic Ashaba,Adelard Kalima Nzanzu

doi:10.1155/2020/9190214

Abstract

Background There is lack of information about prevalence of affective and psychotic disorders triggered by traumatic events among people living in war-affected regions. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence rate of affective and psychotic disorders and the associated factors in a war-torn eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods This epidemiological cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 at Cepima and Muyisa health centers. This study enrolled 344 patients that had experienced traumatic events in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo from the 1119 participants, of whom 229 had positive bipolar affective disorder and 115 patients had psychotic disorders. Results The results revealed that bipolar affective disorders were two times more than psychotic disorders. Sexual abuse, sudden death of a relative, kidnapping, the physical torture, and childhood trauma were the psychological factors correlated to the occurrence of bipolar affective and psychotic disorders. Conclusions It was concluded that the traumatic experiences were precursors for the occurrence of bipolar affective and psychotic spectrum disorders.

Highlights

There is lack of information about prevalence of affective and psychotic disorders triggered by traumatic events among people living in war-affected regions
All patients were admitted at Cepima and Muyisa mental health centers and that had a history of experiencing traumatic events aged above 18 years old, and who lived in the war-affected area for at least one year, and who had been clinically classified to have bipolar affective disorders or psychotic disorders [14]
Patients with affective or psychotic disorders who had not been exposed to armed conflict, those who had mood symptoms linked to trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), those aged less than 18 years old, and those who did not live in a war-torn area for the previous year before the study period were excluded

Summary

Introduction

There is lack of information about prevalence of affective and psychotic disorders triggered by traumatic events among people living in war-affected regions. Affective and psychotic disorders affect both men and women with a prevalence rate ranging between 1 and 3% in the general population [1]. These disorders can be triggered by traumatic events and are commonly reported among people in war- and conflict-affected areas [2]. Priebe et al [5] in a study examining the burden of mental disorders in war settings found out that prevalence of bipolar affective disorders with psychotic features ranged between 12.7 and 47.6% in the Balkans. A comprehensive review of prevalence of bipolar disorders found the highest prevalence of bipolar affective disorder depressed among the studied population [11]

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