Posttraumatic stress disorder in demobilized ex-combatants from illegal armed groups in Colombia: Cross-sectional...

The objective of this study was to describe the psychological and quality of life outcomes in demobilized Colombian ex-combatants.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 58 ex-combatants from the Colombian government's reintegration program. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was measured by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. We applied the Beck-II Depression Inventory, Resilience Scale, Everyday Discrimination Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF) for measuring symptoms of depression, resilience, discrimination, and quality of life, respectively.

The prevalence of PTSD was 63,8%, principally on ex-combatants with ≤10 years in the reinstatement program. Females with primary/elementary school, extremely low social status, unipersonal family type, family income <1 minimal wage, and symptoms of depression showed a higher prevalence ratio (>1.30). The mean scores of depression symptoms, resilience, and quality of life were systematically poorer in the group with PTSD. Significant differences were found Resilience scale domains Personal Competence (p = .043) and Acceptance of Self and Life (p = .012), WHOQOL-BREF Psychological (p = .029) and Environment domains (p = .015).

Colombian ex-combatants with PTSD attending a reinstatement program presented a higher frequency of depression symptoms, lower quality of life, and lower resilience than those without PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).