Association between witnessing traumatic events and psychopathology in the South African Stress and Health Study

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Lukoye AtwoliKarestan C Koenen

Abstract

The high burden of witnessing traumatic events has been demonstrated in previous research in South Africa. However, previous work has focused on PTSD rather than a broader range of psychopathological outcomes. This study examined the association between witnessing trauma and multiple outcomes including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Regression models measured the odds of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders among those who reported witnessing in the South African Stress and Health Study. Discrete-time survival analysis was used to examine whether witnessing was associated with earlier onset of mental disorders. Witnessing trauma was more commonly reported among males and those with low-average education. Posttraumatic stress disorder, mood, and anxiety disorders varied significantly with witnessing status, and witnessing was associated with exposure to a higher number of traumatic events compared to other types of traumatic events. Respondents reporting witnessing trauma had elevated odds of mood and anxiety disorders, but not substance use disorders. Witnessing trauma is common in the South African population and results in increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders. Interventions aimed at reducing the bur...Continue Reading

References

Oct 9, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·Rachel Jewkes, Naeema Abrahams
May 14, 2004·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·B Ann DinanDiana Gibson
Jun 25, 2004·Metabolic Brain Disease·David R WilliamsColwick M Wilson
Aug 7, 2004·International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research·Ronald C Kessler, T Bedirhan Ustün
Oct 24, 2007·Journal of Traumatic Stress·Stacey L WilliamsHashim Moomal
Nov 21, 2007·Bulletin of the World Health Organization·Rosana NormanDebbie Bradshaw
Nov 3, 2009·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Alean Al-KrenawiYaniv Kanat-Maymon
Jan 25, 2014·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Ann Marie WarrenKenleigh Roden-Foreman
Apr 11, 2014·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Kennedy Amone-P'OlakRosemary Abbott
Apr 18, 2014·Journal of Traumatic Stress·Elie G KaramCaroline Cordahi Tabet

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anxiety Disorders

Discover the latest research on anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder here.