Trauma and PTSD in Rwanda : Prevalence and clinical implications

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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.