Mental health consequences of long term conflict

doi:10.1136/bmj.39225.539803.80

BMJ 2007;334:1121-1122 (2 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39225.539803.80

Editorials

Mental health consequences of long term conflict

Survivors of chronic trauma need good mental health servicesand much more

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Between 1969 and 2001, 3524 people were killed in civil disturbancesin Northern Ireland. The annual death rate peaked at 479 ina population of 1.6 million. Deaths and injuries were unequallydistributed, with people in working class urban communitiesand those living close to the Irish border being most at risk.Lessons can be learnt from such conflict, not only about themanagement of single episodes of psychological trauma but alsoabout the effects of long term, violent divisions in societyon mental health.

One of the aims of terrorism is to change attitudes and behaviours.This can lead to mental health problems in people who are targetedand in others. Problems include post-traumatic stress disorder,anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and (rarely) precipitationof psychosis. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be treatedby psychological treatments such as trauma focused cognitivebehaviour therapy¹ or antidepressants.² In this week's BMJ,a . . . [Full text of this article]

Graeme McDonald, consultant psychiatrist

Belfast Crisis Response and Home Treatment Service, Belfast BT14 6AG

graemeh.mcdonald@belfasttrust.hscni.net

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Post-traumatic stress disorder in the context of terrorism and other civil conflict in Northern Ireland: randomised controlled trial: Michael Duffy, Kate Gillespie, and David M Clark
BMJ 2007 334: 1147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]