Exploring Psychological Distress in Burundi During and After the Armed Conflict.

Journal: Community mental health journal

Volume: 52

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2016

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, Fee Road, East Fee Hall, A, East Lansing, MI, , USA. familiar@msu.edu. Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China. World Bank, Rwanda Office, Kigali, Rwanda. ECARES and Center Emile Bernheim, Solvay Brussels School of Economic and Management, Universite Libre de Bruxeles, Brussels, Belgium. Mental Health Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract summary 

We assessed symptoms of psychological distress among a population-based sample of 9000-plus adults in Burundi during (1998) and after (2007) armed conflict. After exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to an 8-item, self-report measure, we identified two domains of psychological distress "Depression/Anxiety" and "Functioning" with good fit to data. The questionnaire was invariant in males and females. Depression and Anxiety symptoms during conflict were more frequently reported than Functioning symptoms; all symptoms were more frequently reported by women. Psychological distress was found in 44 % of individuals during conflict and in 29 % 2 years after the conflict. Results call for further research in Burundi that can inform the development of mental health interventions.

Authors & Co-authors:  Familiar Hall Bundervoet Verwimp Bass

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Glob Public Health. 2013;8(8):943-57
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1007/s10597-015-9902-4
SSN : 1573-2789
Study Population
Males
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
Anxiety;Armed conflict;Burundi;Depression;Factor analysis;Functioning
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Burundi
Publication Country
United States