Complex Trauma Symptoms in Former Ugandan Child Soldiers |
| |
| Authors: | Fionna Klasen Johanna Gehrke Franka Metzner Monica Blotevogel James Okello |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Centre of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germanyf.klasen@uke.de;3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Centre of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany;4. Mental Health Clinic, Gulu National Referral Teaching Hospital, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda |
| |
| Abstract: | Children exposed to repeated interpersonal trauma often develop symptoms that exceed those documented in criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and are better described with the emerging concept of developmental trauma disorder (DTD). This study examines complex trauma symptoms in a sample of 330 former Ugandan child soldiers (age 11–17 years, 49% female). Prevalence rates were 33.0% for PTSD, 36.4% for depression, and 78.2% for DTD. Whereas PTSD symptoms were significantly related to traumatic war experiences and depression, DTD symptoms were significantly associated with experiences of domestic violence, community violence, social support, and depression. Assessment tools and tailored interventions for DTD are urgently needed. |
| |
| Keywords: | child soldier complex trauma developmental trauma disorder post-traumatic stress disorder Uganda |
|
|
