Citation

Loncar M, Medved V, Jovanović N, Henigsberg H, Marcinko D, Hotujac L, Kuzman MR. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 139.

Affiliation

Center for Crisis Intervention, University Psychiatric Clinic - Clinical Hospital Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. (mladen.loncar1@zg.t-com.hr)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964128

Abstract

Objectives and methods: The 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was characterized by systematic mass rapes of civilian women. Expecting polymorphous psychological difficulties among those women, we aimed to investigate associations between suicidality and war-time rape. We conducted a study on 68 raped women with each receiving clinical assessments that enabled us to diagnose mental disorders according to the DSM-IV. Testimony method was used to obtain the descriptions of rapes. The purpose of our investigation was to examine the relationship between rape associated factors and suicidality. Suicidal ideation was evaluated on interview by using suicidal item of depression rating scale. Results: Forty-four women were raped more than once, 21 were raped every day during their captivity, and 18 were forced to witness rapes of other women, usually their mothers, daughters and neighbors. Subsequent to the trauma, 25 victims had intensive suicidal ideas and impulses, but none of them reported suicide attempts. Younger age was a weak predictor for suicidal thoughts and attempts (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.9-1.0), whereas strong predictors were physical injuries suffered during the rape (OR 7.2; 95% CI 1.4-36.7), not knowing the rapist (OR 8.18, 95% CI 1.7-39.1) and vomiting after the rape (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.3-21.4). Out of 29 women who got pregnant after the rape, 17 had artificial abortion. Women who had experienced higher intensive suicidal thoughts after the rape were more likely to have artificial abortion (OR 25.8, 95% CI 2.53-263.2). Discussion: We have confirmed some previous reports that rapes left deep and lasting consequences on the mental health of the victims. The results indicate that some parameters are associated with higher degree of suicidal ideation in these women. These findings may have important implications for the treatment and emphasize importance of suicidality assessment in order to prevent tragic complications.

Language: en