More than half a million Iraqis have been killed since invasion
BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.333.7573.821-a (Published 19 October 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:821
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Dear Editor,
Dr Rana makes a very valid point regarding the psyhological effects
on the Iraqi population stemming from their exposure to an apparent vast
increase in violent death as reported in the Lancet.
Previous studies have suggested that 8% of men and 20% of women who are
directly exposed to lifethreatening violence go on to develop post-
traumatic stress disorder in the following weeks. This becomes a chronic
disorder lasting years in up to 30% of these people (1).
With an excess of over 500,000 violent deaths there will no doubt have
been many more people exposed to grave violence.
It therefore seems likely that the nation of Iraq may suffer a double
blow, firstly by losing a sizebable proportion of its population - and the
study shows that 15-45 years olds are most commonly affected- and secondly
by the significant consequences of people suffering post-traumatic stress
disorder.
This may also be compounded by significant cultural barriers which prevent
people from seeking pyschological help.
The mainstay of the coalition's medical effort has been understandably
directed at assisting with basic medical help and treating injured
civilians in Iraqi or coalition hospitals.
The medical literature provides ample examples of rebuilding psychiatric
facilities in a post-war era, most notably the experiences of doctors in
Croatia following the invasion by coalition forces. We must learn the
lessons of history and expedite the psychiatric help for Iraqi civilians
(2)
1. Ronald C. Kessler et al., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the
National Comorbidity Survey Archives of General Psychiatry, 52(12), 1048-
1060 (December 1995)
2. Med Arh. 2001;55(1 Suppl 1):5-23 Reconstruction of mental health
services in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Owen Dyer needs to be commended for highlighting the colossal loss (more than half a million) of invaluable human lives after the invasion.
According to the article an estimated 1000 people die everyday. In twenty-first century this sort of huge tragedy is beyond comprehension.
As a practising psychiatrist and psychotherapist, I am struggling to
imagine, with great anxiety and concern, the immense and disastrous
psychological consequences, which can be very confidently attributed to
the invasion. Amidst the extremely chaotic and uncertain daily conditions,
what sort of psychiatric support and help the Iraqi people are receiving
for a huge range of psychiatric problems, including psychotic disorders,
depressive episodes (possibly resulting in unestablished number of
suicides), traumatic stress reactions and bereavement issues? And what
about the mental health of children? Who will take responsibility for
causing long lasting damage to their personalities? There is a view that
Iraqi people were in many ways much better off under the regime of Saddam
Hussein.
Bush and Blair are probably never going to admit about this big blunder.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Terrorism?
"More than half a million Iraqi people, about one in 40 of the
country's population, have died from violent causes
since the March 2003 invasion" should prove to the most ardent supporter
of the "coalition of the willing" that dispensing "Democracy" from 30,000
feet above ground is hazardous - and terror-inspiring.
Michael Innis
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests