Abstract

CAMPO-ARIAS, Adalberto; CELINA OVIEDO, Heidi  and  HERAZO, Edwin. Prevalence of Mental Symptoms, Possible Cases and Disorders in Victims Displaced by the Internal Armed Conflict in Colombia: A Systematic Review. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2014, vol.43, n.4, pp.177-185. ISSN 0034-7450.

Background: In Colombia, the internal armed conflict is a public health problem that generates various forms of violence (forced disappearances, forced displacement, massacres, torture and sexual violence). Violence is a major psychosocial stressor that impairs the mental health of the Colombian population. However, there are no real estimates on the prevalence of mental symptoms, possible cases and disorders in victims of violence in displacement situations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of mental symptoms, possible cases and disorders due to the forced displacement of victims of the armed conflict in Colombia during the past two decades (1994-2013). Method: A systematic review was carried out on all available studies published over the last twenty years. The keywords used were "armed conflict", "mental disorders", "mental health", "prevalence" and "Colombia". Authors observed the frequency of symptoms, possible cases, and mental disorders. Results: Thirteen studies involving adults were included. The prevalence of symptoms was observed as between 9.9% and 63%; possible cases, between 21% and 97.3%; and mental disorders, between 1.5% and 32.9%. Conclusions: The prevalence of symptoms, possible cases and mental disorders is high in this Colombian population. This finding should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity and low quality of the studies. More research is needed.

Keywords : Mental disorders; Prevalence; Armed conflicts; Colombia; Systematic review.

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