Citation

Morina N, Emmelkamp PM. Br. J. Psychiatry 2012; 200(2): 158-159.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093609

PMID

22116978

Abstract

We assessed prevalence rates of mental disorders in 206 mothers who had experienced the Kosovo war 10 years previously: 100 lone mothers widowed by the war, 71 non-bereaved married mothers, and 35 married mothers bereaved since the war (loss of family other than husband). A total of 96% of widowed lone mothers reported a major depressive episode, an anxiety disorder or a substance use disorder as compared with 54.9% and 60% in the married groups. Furthermore, 45% of widowed lone mothers reported current suicide risk as compared with 16.9% and 22.9% in the married samples. War-related widowhood combined with lone motherhood constitutes a significant factor for elevated psychopathology.

Language: en