Year: 2009 Source: Torture, v.19, no.3, (2009), p.238-247 SIEC No: 20100104

This study, based on a representative sample of 1161 subjects in Kosovo, assessed war related experiences & posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. Irrespective of age, gender, or education, subjects in rural areas had high suicide ideation scores. Unemployment & high posttraumatic stress disorder scores were associated with suicide ideation scores. It is concluded suicide ideation, linked to both past stressful experiences & present social stessors, is a question to be considered in mental health care plans in post-conflict zones. Underrecognition could result in increasing suicidal behaviours. Ideation also indicates exhaustion & despair that needs to be addressed by general interventions rather than individual psychotherapeutic treatments. (32 refs.)