Ragnhild Dybdahl

Trauma-related and neutral false memories in war-induced Posttraumatic Stress Disorder☆

Recent models of cognition in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) predict that trauma-related, but not neutral, processing should be differentially affected in these patients, compared to trauma-exposed controls. This study compared a group of 50 patients with PTSD related to the war in Bosnia and a group of 50 controls without PTSD but exposed to trauma from the war, using the DRM method to induce false memories for war-related and neutral critical lures. While the groups were equally susceptible to neutral critical lures, the PTSD group mistakenly recalled more war-related lures. Both false and correct recall were related more to depression than to self-rated trauma. Implications for accounts of false memories in terms of source-monitoring are discussed.

A Psychosocial Support Programme for Children and Mothers in War

This article describes the content and implementation of a psychosocial intervention programme that was found to have positive effects on mothers and children in Bosnia. The programme was designed to aid young children and their primary caregiver who were victims of war. The main aim was to promote the emotional, social and intellectual development and well-being of young children. The programme consisted of weekly group meetings for mothers over a five-month period and focused on coping with problems and promoting good mother–child interaction. The mothers were given information about child development, social interaction and trauma. Group leaders helped the mothers to conduct constructive discussions, share experiences and support each other. Lessons learnt from implementation of the programme are discussed.

User and Carer Involvement in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: A Norwegian Staff Perspective

It has been suggested that user involvement in heath care leads to improved services. The aim of the study was to explore attitudes towards user involvement of staff employed in Norwegian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Most of the investigated mental health service staff expressed the opinion that users should be involved in the planning of their own treatment and generally have a positive attitude towards user involvement. Skepticism was related to some aspects of involvement and does not contradict their generally positive attitude towards user involvement.

Childhood in the Somali Context: Mothers' and Children's Ideas about Childhood and Parenthood:

Mothers (n = 20, mean age 30 years) and children (n = 23, mean age 10 years) in Mogadishu, Somalia were interviewed regarding their ideas about childhood and par enting. The main features of the context focused on (a) sources of difficulties and joy, (b) what is seen as good child-rearing and how a child should be, and (c) the value of children for mothers. Both mothers and children stressed the importance of obedience, hard work and contribution to the bousehold from children. Women valued children highly and wanted many children. They emphasised childrens physical needs. Chil dren stressed the authority ofparents and the wish for improved material conditions. The values and beliefs of the mothers and children were closely related to important direct goals in their everyday lives and the living conditions, child rearing practices and ideas were closely related.

Traumatic experiences and psychological reactions among women in Bosnia during the war.

Internally displaced women (N = 77) in Bosnia were interviewed before and after participating in group psychotherapy during the war in 1994 and 1995 to gain background information and assess stress exposure and stress reactions. Nearly all the women had experienced loss of family members, many acts of violence and mental health impairment. The participants had high scores on a symptom scale, in terms of intrusive, avoidance and arousal symptoms and somewhat lower on depression/powerlessness items. After participating in short‐term group therapy they reported significant reduction in symptoms. The women who had experienced most traumatic events and had most symptoms, reported greatest reduction in symptomatology. Some of the implications of the findings are discussed and it is concluded that group therapy may be helpful in war conditions, even though traditional preconditions for psychotherapy are not present.

Psychiatric symptoms experienced by adolescents in Nepal following the 2015 earthquakes

BACKGROUND In 2015, Nepal was hit by two major earthquakes, which caused 8900 deaths and displaced more than 450,000 people. We assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms and explored potential risk factors among adolescents. METHODS This cross-sectional study comprised 893 students aged 11-17 in school grades 7-10. They lived in two districts affected by the earthquakes: Sindhupalchok and Kathmandu. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using Child PTSD symptom scale and Depression Self-Rating Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis examined the associations between demographic, earthquake-related factors and psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS The prevalence of PTSS in the Sindhupalchok and Kathmandu districts were 39.5% and 10.7%, and depression symptoms were 40.4% and 23.2% respectively. The moderating effect of gender on the relationship between age and PTSS was significant. In the multivariate logistic analyses, the factors associated with PTSS and depression were: being female, prior exposure to trauma and being directly affected by the earthquakes. LIMITATIONS Due to the lack of pre-earthquake prevalence rates, our estimates may have been due to chronic long-lasting problems of poverty and lack of access to physical and mental health services. The use of self-reported questionnaires might have overestimated the prevalence rates compared to psychiatric interviews. CONCLUSIONS One year after the earthquakes, adolescents living in Sindhupalchok had a higher prevalence of PTSS and depressive symptoms than those living in Kathmandu. Socio-economic and earthquake-related factors were associated with psychiatric outcomes. The findings indicate the need for early psychosocial interventions, prevention and future research after emergency relief.