The aim of this thesis was to carry out an epidemiological study on mental health related issues in the Kurdish population of Iran. This part of Iran suffered directly during the Iran-Iraq war 1980-1988. Iran is an Islamic republic with strict adherence to Islamic traditions, which has implications for the way of life and gender issues. Suicide is prohibited according to Islamic teaching, but still there is a rather high suicide incidence especially among young women, who burn themselves to death. This thesis deals with mental health in general, the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder and issues related to suicide.In a cross- sectional study in Sanandaj, the capital of the province of Iranian Kurdistan, 1000 households were approached. One member of each household was asked to respond to the following internationally well-known questionnaires; General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), Life Events Check List (LEC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Attitude Toward Suicide (ATTS). PCL and LEC were translated to Farsi and their psychometric properties were studied. The other instruments have already been translated and used by other researchers in Iran.About 27% of the subjects were found to suffer from mental distress according to GHQ-12.No gender differences were found. Unmarried and unemployed belong to the most afflicted.The participants in the investigation reported, not surprisingly, a low level of personal experiences of suicidal behaviour in their family. Females were more prone to believe that suicide is preventable compared to males.A low number reported suicide attempts during the last year. Being married seemed to have a protective effect against suicide attempts for males but not for females. Suicide behaviour was not substantially related to PTSD, but to severe depression…
Contents
Introduction
About Iran and Iranian Kurdistan
Province of Kurdistan
Mental Health in Iran
Review of literature relating to mental health in Iran
Literature overview focusing on Kurdish Iranian Population
PTSD, depression and suicide
PTSD
Depression
Suicide
Aims of the study
Subjects
Methods
Quality of Life
GHQ12
BDI II
PCL-C
Life Events Checklist
ATTS
Statistical Analyses
Summary of the papers
Paper I General Mental Health, Quality of Life and Suicide Related Attitudes among Kurdish People in Iran.
Paper II Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Kurdish Iranians
Paper III Attitudes towards Suicide among Kurdish people in Iran
Paper IV Continuity from suicidal ideations to suicide attempts in Iranian Kurds
Paper V How about the relationships between PTSD, depressivity and suicide related
thoughts in Iranian Kurds?
Ethical considerations
Limitations
General Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
Author: Mofidi, Naser
Source: Umea University
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