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Mental and physical health of Kosovar Albanians in their place of origin: a post-war 6-year follow-up study

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Abstract

Purpose

Long-term outcome of traumatic experiences among war-exposed civilians living in their home country has been seldom documented. The present study examined change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequency and perceived physical and mental health in a cohort of Kosovar Albanians over 6 years (2001–2007).

Methods

Of 996 Albanian Kosovar civilians included in the 2001 survey, 551 subjects (55.3%) were recalled and interviewed in 2007. Diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive episode were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Subjective physical and mental health were investigated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36). A list of traumatic events adapted from the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and other stressful life events was also considered.

Results

Posttraumatic stress disorder was significantly less frequent in 2007 than in 2001 (14.5% vs. 23.2%, p < 0.001). For 18.0, 5.3 and 9.3% of participants, PTSD remitted, persisted and developed over the 6-year follow-up period, respectively. Ill health without having access to medical care and major changes in responsibilities at work were associated with both persistence and new occurrence of PTSD. While the SF-36 mental component summary score significantly improved (mean change +4.5, p < 0.001), the physical component summary score did not change between 2001 and 2007, after adjustment for age (mean change −0.8, p = 0.14).

Conclusions

Results point at the importance of economic and health system reconstruction programs with respect to public health in post-conflict countries.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all Kosovar Albanian participants who agreed to be interviewed; Shyhrete Baraliu, Naim Hoxha, Arta Kelmendi, Arben Muhaxhiri, Visare Shala, Amira Bajramovic, Besir Kubati, Zoja Gojani, Edina Bajramovic, Edona Isufi, Eroll Shporta, Arieta Kurtolli-Aliu, Aferdita Ferri, Indira Kelmendi and Fisnik Vejsa, the psychosocial counselors who conducted the interviews; Gazmend Ahmeti, MSc, for database management and preliminary analysis; Ruhje Hodza Beganovic, MD, and Patrick A Bovier, MD, MPH, for their help and methodological support. The study was funded by the humanitarian fund of the University Hospitals of Geneva and the Geneva Foundation to protect health in war. Local support in Kosovo was assured by IOM (hiring surveyors, organization of training sessions, data entry, mails and transportation).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 2, Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225, Geneva, Switzerland

    Ariel Eytan & Marianne Gex-Fabry

  2. International Organization for Migration (IOM), 17, Route des Morillons, 1211, Geneva 19, Switzerland

    Ann Guthmiller

  3. Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, University Hospitals of Geneva, 4, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland

    Sophie Durieux-Paillard & Louis Loutan

Authors
  1. Ariel Eytan
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  2. Ann Guthmiller
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  3. Sophie Durieux-Paillard
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  4. Louis Loutan
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  5. Marianne Gex-Fabry
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Correspondence to Ariel Eytan.

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Eytan, A., Guthmiller, A., Durieux-Paillard, S. et al. Mental and physical health of Kosovar Albanians in their place of origin: a post-war 6-year follow-up study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46, 953–963 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0269-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0269-0

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