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Introduction: Exposure to traumatic events is hypothesized
to have deleterious effect resulting in considerable psychological (cognitive
and affective/emotional), physical and social impairments. In contrast to
natural disasters, victims of human-made disasters have been reported to be
vulnerable to severe psychological and psychiatric disorders affecting a large
number of abilities and lasting for many years. Among the most common
psychiatric diagnosis associated with violence exposure is the Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). Like adults, children and adolescents are not exempt
from this situation. In 1994, Rwanda experienced an unprecedented genocide in
which about 800.000 Tutsi, for their majority, were atrociously murdered (UN).
This genocide generated multiple and massive stressors that may lead to severe
and long-lasting PTSD among its survivors.
Methods: Selective review of the literature.
Results: A recent study on mental and physical health (Munyandamutsa et al. 2012) estimated at 26.1% the prevalence rate of PTSD in the general population 14 years after the genocide. The same study established that participants meeting the full criteria for PTSD diagnosis were also likely to report major depression symptoms (68.4% vs 6.6%, P <0 .00="" 3.5="" addiction="" and="" as="" assumed="" auto-destructive="" availing="" behaviours="" between="" chronic="" clinic="" comorbid="" comorbidities="" compared="" could="" crimes="" decrease="" dependance="" developing="" domestic="" dysfuction="" equally="" evidenced="" existing="" focusing="" font="" from="" in="" including="" interventions="" is="" it="" like="" literature="" moving="" murders="" nbsp="" on="" p="0.013)" participants="" promote="" psycho-social="" psychosocial="" ptsd.="" ptsd="" relationship="" resilience="" social="" specialized="" substance="" sufferers.="" suicide.="" that="" the="" thus="" to="" trauma="" use="" violence="" vs.="" vulnerability="" without="">
Conclusion: In this specific case, there is a number of
lessons to learn from the post-genocide Rwanda experience. Withstanding
cultural differences, it is postulated that in-depth studies can contribute in
setting up proper therapeutic interventions addressing PTSD in Rwanda.
