Trauma associated with civil conflict and posttraumatic stress disorder: evidence from the Northern Ireland study of health and stress

Abstract

The authors provide epidemiological estimates of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and associated mental disorders in Northern Ireland (NI) with a focus on the impact of civil conflict using data from the NI Study of Health and Stress (NISHS), a representative epidemiological survey of adults in NI. Overall 60.6% had a lifetime traumatic event, and 39.0% experienced a presumed conflict-related event. Men were significantly more likely to experience any traumatic event and most conflict-related event types (p < .05). The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of PTSD were 8.8% and 5.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among men and women who experienced a conflict-related trauma (46.0% and 55.9%, respectively) was significantly higher than the prevalence among men and women who did not experience this type of traumatic event (27.2% and 31.1%, respectively). Given the public health burden posed by PTSD and additional impact of conflict, specific attention must be paid to the policy, service, and clinical challenge of delivering evidence-based treatments in the wake of a tumultuous period of conflict.