PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse among of medical and phylosphy university students in Bosnia-Herzegovina after 1992-95 war

Abstract

Aims:

To estimate prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and substance misuse among university students after the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH).

Methods:

The sample of 372 students from University of Tuzla (234 females) aged of 21.9±2.4 years, divided in medical (n=108) and philosophy students group (n=264), were evaluated for prevalence of PTSD, depression, anxiety and substance misuse. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Sheehan Patient-Rated Anxiety Scale were used.

Results:

In the sample PTSD prevalence was 20.7%; groups did not significantly differed (Chi-square=0.895; df=1; P=0.344). Girls presented significantly more PTSD (24.4%) than boys (14.2%) (Chi-square=5.424, df=1, P=0.020). The prevalence of depression and anxiety in the sample was 30.1% and 35.5% respectively, with no significant differences between groups (Chi-square=1.265; df=1; P=0.261; Chi-square=2.278; df=1; P=0.131, respectively). Gender had no influence on the prevalence of depression and anxiety.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in whole sample was 35.2% and 41.4% respectively with no significant differ between groups. Significantly, more boys were drinking alcohol (57.3%) than girls (32.3%) (Chi-square=21.362; df=1; P<0.001). Prevalence of marijuana and heroin misuse in whole sample was 15.3% and 5.0% respectively; significantly, more boys misused marijuana (20.6%) than girls (12.2%) (Chi-square=4.525; df=1; P=0.033).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse between groups of medical and philosophy university students in BH seven years after the war quitted did not significantly differ. Girls presented significantly more PTSD prevalence than boys. Boys significantly more frequently were drinking alcohol and misused marijuana than girls.