Η επικράτηση των διαταραχών μετατραυματικού stress και μείζονος κατάθλιψης σε δείγμα Παλαιστινίων γενικού πληθυσμού

Abstract

This study explored the prevalence of PTSD and Major Depression among a sample of adult West Bank Palestinians. Study subjects and sample: Nine hundred sixteen (916) respondents of both sexes aged 20 years and above, were selected from the towns, villages, and refugee camps in the form of cross-sectional home survey study. Furthermore, the study was designed and carried out in the years 2005-2008 in four geographical areas of the Palestinian West Bank: Tulkarm, Jenine, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. Moreover, comparability with (251) Arabs living in Athens was established. Quota sampling method was used in the current study for the Palestinian sample. Furthermore, convenient sampling was used for the Athenian sample. The case-control design was used in combination with the cross-sectional design for the purpose of comparing between the two populations. Research instruments: The DSM1V symptom-item criteria were used to diagnose PTSD. Moreover, other demographic questions were used. Major depression was examined using SCID related item-symptoms criteria, which were extracted from the DSM1V and used in the form of direct face to face questionnaire interview. The reliability of these instruments was tested proven to be reliable. Results and conclusions: The West Bank Palestinians were found to suffer more than the Athenian Arabs from PTSD and major depression. The married status acts as a protective factor from the life time major depression among the Palestinian males. In contrary, the single status is considered as a protective factor from the life time MD among the Palestinian females. Being a refugee was more likely to develop MD and PTSD among the West Bank Palestinians. Furthermore, the most affected West Bank Palestinian groups with PTSD were: females, unskilled workers, widowed males, divorced females, non-income and >300$ income respondents, and the refugee camps living respondents. Moreover, the least affected groups with PTSD were: males, employees, single males and females, >600$ monthly salary, and the village and town living respondents. In relation with subthreshold PTSD, the most prominent result was found an elevating prevalence among males more than females. The prevalence of major depression Results were divided into life time and one month prevalence rates. The total life time prevalence among the West Bank Palestinians was found to be 24.3%, and the males were suffering more than females from depression. Moreover, the one month prevalence rates of MD were also higher among males than females. The life time prevalence of depressed cases seeking psychiatric help was found to be 44.4% from the total depressed Palestinian respondents. Furthermore, the prevalence of depressed cases using psychotropic medications was found to be 53.8% also from the total depressed cases. The most affected age groups suffering from life time and one month MD were those >60 and the age group of 20-29 years old. The married status was found to be a protective factor only from the life time MD among group A males, and the most affected males and females with MD were the divorced and widowed Palestinian respondents. The most affected groups with MD were: unskilled, no-income and <300$ income respondents. In relation with the place of residence the Palestinians living in towns were the most affected group from a life time MD, and in the refugee camp living respondents were the most affected group from a one month MD. Furthermore, the refugees were more affected with MD than the non refugee respondents. In comparison with the control group consisted of Arabs living in Athens, the prevalence rates of major depression (life time and one month) and PTSD in this group were found to be lower than those from their counterparts Palestinians of the West Bank