The Long Term Effect of Psychological Trauma: A Public Health Issue in Kuwait

Abstract

Only in the last two decades has the importance of traumatic life events as a major cause of physical and psychological morbidity been recognized. In 1980, the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) formed the basis for a range of systematic studies into the effects of traumatic stress. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that these events are much more common than originally estimated. In the USA, PTSD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Studies conducted in Kuwait since the end of the Iraqi occupation indicate that the lingering traumatic consequences are likely to be a major cause of social distress and disability that will manifest in a variety of ways, including substance abuse and family discord. The long-term prognosis of the disorder is not as positive as is often painted in compensation settings. Thus, the identification and treatment of PTSD in Kuwait provides a major public health challenge, not just for the providers of psychiatric and pychological services, but also for primary-care physicians. © 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel.