Which mental disorders result from war and conflict?

The disorder now labeled "post-traumatic stress disorder" is relatively new. Other terms such as "shell shock" and "combat fatigue" have been used in the past to describe the effects of war and conflict on mental health. Researchers in The Netherlands have published a new study that sheds light on the variety of mental health problems that can result from war and conflict. The researchers assessed over 3000 people from "postconflict communities" in Algeria, Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Palestine. As expected, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder were the two most frequently reported diagnoses in people from all areas. Some interesting differences emerged, however.

People exposed to violence - except those in Cambodia - were most commonly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Those not exposed to violence associated with armed conflict - except for those in Ethiopia - were more commonly diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Ethiopia had the lowest rates of mental disorders while Algeria had the highest. More information is available in this press release from The Lancet.