International Journal of Mental Health Systems - December 31, 2008 - Back to Resources Page

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Background: Trauma from war and violence has led to psychological disorders in individuals living
in the Gaza strip and West Bank. Few reports are available on the psychiatric disorders seen in
children and adolescents or the treatment of affected populations. This study was conducted in
order to describe the occurrence and treatment of psychiatric disorders in the Palestinian
populations of the Gaza strip and Nablus district in the West Bank.

Methods: From 2005 to 2008, 1369 patients aged more than 1 year were identified through a local
mental health and counseling health network. All were clinically assessed using a semi-structured
interview based on the DSM-IV-TR criteria.

Results: Among 1254 patients, 23.2% reported post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], 17.3%
anxiety disorder (other than PTSD or acute stress disorder), and 15.3% depression. PTSD was
more frequently identified in children ? 15 years old, while depression was the main symptom
observed in adults. Among children ? 15 years old, factors significantly associated with PTSD
included being witness to murder or physical abuse, receiving threats, and property destruction or
loss (p < 0.03). Psychological care, primarily in the form of individual, short-term psychotherapy,
was provided to 65.1% of patients, with about 30.6% required psychotropic medication. Duration
of therapy sessions was higher for children ? 15 years old compared with adults (p = 0.05).
Following psychotherapy, 79.0% had improved symptoms, and this improvement was significantly
higher in children ? 15 years old (82.8%) compared with adults (75.3%; p = 0.001).

Conclusion: These observations suggest that short-term psychotherapy could be an effective
treatment for specific psychiatric disorders occurring in vulnerable populations, including children,
living in violent conflict zones, such as in Gaza strip and the West Bank.

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International Journal of Mental Health Systems - December 31, 2008 - Back to Resources Page