THE SYRIAN WAR AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic distress disorder (PTSD) amongst Syrian whom lived in under the war.  Methodology: The study has utilized a survey to observe the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Syrian people who lived inside Syria during the Syrian conflict The survey uses the PTSD checklist for civilians (PCL-C), which measures both the severity of PTSD and the 3 symptoms of it in accordance with “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-IV) that are re-experiencing; avoidance; and hyperarousal. A sample of 600 random Syrian people participated in the current study.   Findings: The PTSD test results show a widespread of the trauma in Syria based on the result of the test as 53percent of the participants had symptoms corresponding to the recommended diagnosis, which is expected due to horrors of war and terrorism-related events. Implications: Results suggest that it is imperative to provide intervention programs to treat PTSD symptoms among people who live in Syria. The participants' cultural and religious backgrounds should be taken into account in these programs. The originality of the Study: This Syrian war research has contributed to a spike in symptoms of PTSD and depression among children in Syria.