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War and bereavement: consequences for mental and physical distress
Nexhmedin Morina1, Ulrike von Lersner, Holly G Prigerson
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|July 19, 2011
Summary
Losing a parent in war during childhood significantly increases the risk of mental health issues and dysfunction in young adulthood. Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a key indicator of severe distress and disability.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Long-term mental health consequences of parental loss during wartime in childhood/adolescence remain understudied.
- This research investigates the prevalence of mental disorders and dysfunction in young adults who experienced such loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term mental health impact of losing a parent due to war in childhood or adolescence.
- To determine current rates of mental disorders and functional impairment in affected young adults.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 179 young adults bereaved by war and 175 non-bereaved controls, interviewed a decade post-conflict.
- Utilized Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Major Depressive Episode (MDE), anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicide risk.
- Assessed Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) using the PG-13 interview and somatic/general health distress via validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Bereaved individuals showed higher rates of MDE or anxiety disorders (58.7% vs. 40%) compared to non-bereaved controls.
- Among the bereaved, 39.7% had PTSD, 34.6% had PGD, and 22.3% had MDE.
- Participants with PGD reported greater MDE, anxiety, suicide risk, and physical distress than those without PGD.
Conclusions:
- War-related parental loss in childhood/adolescence poses a significant risk for adverse mental health and dysfunction in young adulthood.
- Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a crucial diagnostic marker for identifying individuals with the most severe distress and functional impairment.
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