The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Yazidi people results from ISIS invasion and consecutive trauma: A systematic review

Ahmed, Darya Rostam; Heun, Reinhard

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103703

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The risk of mental health problems disproportionately affects women in two distinct phases: firstly, during the conflict due to gender-based violence, and subsequently after resettlement, stemming from the gender disparity in access to services and education [ 9 ]. This led to a significantly higher prevalence of MH disorder, such as depression and PTSD, among women [ 10 ]. A high prevalence of mental disorders was also found in other countries with a similar background.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults in an Iraqi Kurdi IDP Camp: a focus group study

Benoni,

Giacomelli,

Vegro

et al. 2024

Int J Equity Health

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Background Internally displaced people (IDP) in Iraq are 1.2 million (as March 2023). Protracted refugee status endangers the mental health, especially of minorities who survived persecution and conflict, such as the Yazidis. This study aims to identify the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults (AYA) in the IDP camp of Bajed Kandala (Iraqi Kurdistan). Methods A focus group discussion (FGD) study was conducted between April and August 2022. The FGDs involved AYAs, as well as the staff of the clinic of the Bajed Kandala camp. An inductive approach was adopted referring to the ’theme’ as the unit of content analysis of the text. All FGDs were recorded and transcribed. The analysis was carried out independently by two researchers. The inter-rater agreement was assessed through the Cohen’s k. Results A total of 6 FGDs were conducted. The participants were 34 of whom 21 (61.8%) females with a median age of 18.5 years (IQR 17.0–21.0). A total of 156 themes were found as relevant to the objective of this study. Four main areas and twelve subareas of needs in mental health were identified. The interrater agreement over the main area and subareas was good (κ = 0.78 [0.95CI 0.69–0.88], κ = 0.82 [0.95CI 0.73–0.91], respectively). The four areas had a similar frequency: Activities (28.2%), Individual (27.6%), Social relationships (22.4%) and Places/setting (21.8%). The subareas ‘community’ and ‘internal resources’ were labelled as negative 85.7% and 61.9% of the time, respectively. These sub-areas referred to stigma and self-stigma towards mental health. The subarea ‘female condition’ was always considered as negative, as well as the subareas ‘camp’ and ‘tent’ referring to housing as an important social determinant of mental health. Conclusions Community stigma and self-stigma are two still important factors preventing the achievement of mental well-being. Alongside these, a gender gap in mental health was identified in the FGDs. These factors should be taken into account in order to guide future mental health interventions in refugee camps.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults in an Iraqi Kurdi IDP Camp: a focus group study

Benoni,

Giacomelli,

Vegro

et al. 2024

Int J Equity Health

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“…The Anfal campaign was one extended genocidal attack out of many other attacks against Kurds, including the killing of thousands of Kurdish Failis in the 1970s to 1980s and the genocide of Kurdish Yazidis after the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invasion in 2014 (D. R. Ahmed 2022a, 2022c; D. R. Ahmed & Heun 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The physical and psychological trauma of these events is still felt today and many survivors and their families are struggling to cope with their lasting effects (Ekzayez et al, 2020). The Anfal campaign was one extended genocidal attack out of many other attacks against Kurds, including the killing of thousands of Kurdish Failis in the 1970s to 1980s and the genocide of Kurdish Yazidis after the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invasion in 2014 (D. R. Ahmed 2022a, 2022c; D. R. Ahmed & Heun 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Holocaust to Anfal: The impact of genocide and cross-generational trauma on the mental health of Kurds

Ahmed

2023

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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Genocide attempts are among the most severe traumatic events that are transmitted across generations. However, it may also prove the strength and survivability as well as the vulnerability of the targeted group. Anfal and chemical attacks on Halabja on Iraqi Kurds that targeted their annihilation had a devastating impact. Many survivors and their generations are still dealing with their effects on psychological disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. To address the psychological effects of these tragic events on survivors and their generations and propose the actions to be taken, this article explores the psychological trauma and problems caused by attempted genocide and chemical attacks in the case of Anfal campaign. These effects require more research to fully understand the long-term effects of these tragedies, as well as support and provision of comprehensive psychological and mental health interventions to their survivors and generations.

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Psychological scars of genocide: a systematic review of post-traumatic outcomes in Kurdish Anfal survivors

Mahmood,

Ahmed,

Neldner

et al. 2024

Curr Psychol

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The Anfal genocide, including the infamous Halabja chemical attack, has imprinted deep scars on the Kurdish community in Iraq that lasted for decades. Despite significant historical documentation, the enduring psychological impact on survivors is less examined. This systematic review synthesizes existing research to address this gap. Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, this review systematically searched databases for scholarly articles examining the mental health of Kurdish survivors following the 1988 Anfal genocide, with a focus on PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Of the initial 201 articles identified, seven met the inclusion criteria. These studies were subjected to a thorough data extraction and qualitative synthesis, and their quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The selected studies encompassed a combined sample of 760 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 92 years. The findings revealed high prevalence rates of PTSD, particularly in children, with a prevalence rate of 87%. In adults, PTSD and depression prevalence rates in unselected samples were estimated at 86.2% and 49%, respectively. Qualitative findings from survivors reveal a complex interplay of depression, intrusive memories, and societal isolation, compounded by poverty and discrimination, with health concerns like respiratory and ocular problems further exacerbating psychological distress. However, non-representative samples and absence of control groups limit result generalization. The literature reviewed indicates substantial psychological distress among the Anfal genocide survivors, underscoring an urgent need for targeted mental health interventions. Future research needs representative samples and validated tools for precise prevalence assessment and comprehensive impact understanding.

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The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Yazidi people results from ISIS invasion and consecutive trauma: A systematic review

Cited by 6 publications

References 40 publications

Assessing the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults in an Iraqi Kurdi IDP Camp: a focus group study

Assessing the mental health needs of Yazidi adolescents and young adults in an Iraqi Kurdi IDP Camp: a focus group study

From Holocaust to Anfal: The impact of genocide and cross-generational trauma on the mental health of Kurds

Psychological scars of genocide: a systematic review of post-traumatic outcomes in Kurdish Anfal survivors

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