WAR TRAUMA IN A CIVILIAN POPULATION

Background. An epidemiological survey was made of war trauma and its c onsequences in the general population. Method. One member aged over 15 years from each of 101 randomly selected families in a Primary Health Area in Sri Lanka were interviewed using the Stress Impact Ouestionna ire. Results. Nearly one-half had experienced between five and nine wa r stresses, and one-quarter experienced over 10 (mean 6.66). Only 6% h ad not experienced any. Sixty-four per cent had developed psychosocial sequelae, including somatisation (41%). post-traumatic Stress disorde r (27%), anxiety disorder (26%), major depression (25%), hostility (19 %), relationship problems (13%), alcohol and drug misuse (15%) and fun ctional disability (18%). Conclusion. The trauma experienced correlate d strongly with psychosocial and somatic symptoms.