P-1452 - Psychological Disturbance in Women With Experience of Missing Family Members

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and intensity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women with experience of missing family members. The study included 80 women with experience of missing family members, who became missing during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 40 women with no experience of missing family members. During the research used were: Somatic Symptoms Inventory (SSI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A).

Results:

Women with experience of missing family members had significantly higher levels of anxiety (χ² = 21.96, P < 0.001), mean level symptoms of depression (F = 57.4, P < 0.001), and values of PTSD scores (F = 43.2, P < 0.001) than women with no experience of missing family member. In respect to the intensity of somatic symptoms among women with experience of missing members and women with no experience of missing member we found no significant difference (F = 0.21, P = 0.885). Women with experiences of missing sons and husbands showed significantly higher levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD than women with experiences of other missing family members (P < 0.001).

The results of this study indicate that women with experience of missing family members have a higher risk for developing depression, anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder than women with no experience of missing family members.