Original scientific paper

PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN POST-WAR BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

Mevludin Hasanović ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sehaveta Srabović ; Humanitarian Association of “Prijateljice” Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Munevera Rašidović ; Humanitarian Association of “Prijateljice” Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mirela Šehović ; Humanitarian Association of “Prijateljice” Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emir Hasanbašić ; Humanitarian Association of “Prijateljice” Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasminka Husanović ; Humanitarian Association of “Prijateljice” Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Renata Hodžić ; Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Background: The 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) has had a tremendous impact on civilians; thousands of inhabitants were left with numerous traumatic experiences. Many children suffered or witnessed horrifying acts of violence and aggression. Although young trauma victims are often resilient, many experience mental health difficulties, including PTSD. The aim of the study was to
estimate whether psychosocial support given by the School Project of Humanitarian Association of “ Prijateljice” reduced posttraumatic consequences in students in primary and secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina after 1992-1995 war.
Subjects and methods: A stratified sample of 336 students in primary and secondary schools located in two entities of North-East Bosnia and Herzegovina, involved in psychosocial support, was compared with 72 voluntarily selected sameage students from the same schools who were not involved in this project. Data were
collected on two occasions, beginning of December 2005 and end of May 2006, by using a self-evaluation survey method for measuring symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM IV. The Index of Children Post-traumatic reactions were used.
Results: The severity of PTSD symptoms among students involved in the School Project decreased from (mean±standard deviation=35.3±10.2 to 26.7±8.7) (t=13.1, P<0.001, Paired sample test), whereas in the group with no psychosocial assistance
this reduction was from (29.7±10.9 to 28.1±11.8) (t=0.9, P=0.396, Paired sample test).
Conclusion: This study suggests that work with students by giving them psychosocial support within the School Project resulted in significant reduction of PTSD symptoms’ severity.

Keywords

students; PTSD; school project; psychosocial assistance; humanitarian association of “Prijateljice”; Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hrčak ID:

49575

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/49575

Publication date:

25.8.2009.

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