Posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression symptoms, and psychosocial treatment needs in Colombians internally displaced by armed conflict: A mixed-method evaluation.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Armed conflict in Colombia has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 4.5 million people, or about\n10% of the Colombian population. Hundreds of thousands of Colombians are exposed to violence and\nforced displacement annually. The present study used survey methods to assess levels of posttraumatic\nstress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in a convenience sample of 109 internally\ndisplaced adults residing in Medellı´n, Colombia. A qualitative approach including an open-ended survey\nand focus groups with a subsample of 44 survey respondents was used to gain a better understanding of\nmental health treatment needs. A large proportion of survey respondents exceeded cut-scores for\nclinically significant PTSD (88%), anxiety (59%), and depression (41%). Multivariate regression models\nshowed that female gender was a significant predictor of higher PTSD symptom levels and that female\ngender, higher education, and being separated as opposed to married predicted higher levels of depression\nsymptoms. Focus group findings suggest that participants are interested in specialized psychological\ntreatments as well as broader psychosocial interventions to treat the consequences of exposure to violence\nand forced displacement.