Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees residing in the Kurdistan region of Iraq

Harem Nareeman Mahmood,Frank Neuner,Katharina Goessmann,Hawkar Ibrahim,Azad Ali Ismail

doi:10.1186/s13031-019-0238-5

Abstract

BackgroundSince the Syrian civil war began in March 2011, more than half of the Syrian population was forced to escape from their homes, and more than 5 million of them fled their country. The aim of the present study is to estimate the psychological consequences of this conflict among the refugee population who fled to Iraq.MethodIn 2017, a team of locally trained psychologists and social workers interviewed 494 married couples (988 individuals) who were Syrian Kurdish refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Validated Kurdish Kurmanji and Arabic versions of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5 and depression section of Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 were used for assessing PTSD and depression symptoms.ResultsAlmost all of the participants (98.5%) had experienced at least one traumatic event and 86.3% of them experienced three or more traumatic event types. The prevalence of probable PTSD was about 60%. Gender, length of time in the camp, area in which participants were grown up, and the number of traumatic event types were significant predictors for the presence of PTSD symptoms. Approximately the same rate of participants (59.4%) experienced probable depression, which was associated with gender, age, time spent in the camp, and the number of traumatic event types.ConclusionPTSD and depression are prevalent among refugees exposed to traumatic events, and various variables play important roles. The pattern of risk factors in this population is consistent with findings from war-affected populations in other regions and should be considered for intervention within this population and more broadly.

Highlights

Over recent years, the number of refugees has increased tremendously worldwide [1]
The same rate of participants (59.4%) experienced probable depression, which was associated with gender, age, time spent in the camp, and the number of traumatic event types
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are prevalent among refugees exposed to traumatic events, and various variables play important roles

Summary

Introduction

The number of refugees has increased tremendously worldwide [1]. The main reasons fueling this global refugee crisis and mass migration were conflict, war, persecution, violation of human rights, and economic and political crises [2, 3]. By the first half of 2017, the number of refugees worldwide increased to over 18.5 million, more than half of whom fled from Syria, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. In addition to war-related violent events experienced in their country of origin, refugees are exposed to danger and potentially traumatic events during the course of their flight [9, 10]. When they arrive at camps or host countries, many already suffer from psychological and physical impairment.

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