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PTSD of rape after IS ("Islamic State") captivity
Jan Ilhan Kizilhan1,2,3
1Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg, Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq. ilhankizilhan@t-online.de.
Archives of Women'S Mental Health
|March 12, 2018
Summary
Wartime rape survivors, particularly Yazidi women held captive by IS, experience high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disorders. These findings highlight the urgent need for specialized mental health support for survivors of wartime sexual violence.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Sociology
Background:
- Research on the psychological impact of wartime rape on women is scarce.
- Yazidi women survivors of IS captivity faced extreme sexual and physical violence.
- Understanding the mental health consequences is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and nature of PTSD symptoms in Yazidi women survivors of rape during IS captivity.
- To identify comorbid psychological disorders.
- To examine risk factors associated with PTSD.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional study involving 296 Yazidi women survivors of rape in Germany.
- Interviews conducted by trained personnel to assess mental health status.
- Evaluation of PTSD, somatoform disorder, depression, anxiety, and dissociation.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of PTSD (57% in women with >20 rape events).
- Significant rates of somatoform disorder (67%), depression (53%), anxiety (39%), and dissociation (28%).
- Over 82% of women reported physical torture alongside rape.
Conclusions:
- IS captivity and wartime rape have severe immediate and long-term mental health consequences.
- High PTSD prevalence underscores the need for culturally sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic services.
- Addressing the trauma of wartime sexual violence requires specialized support systems.