Psychological Effects of War: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Laura C.

In an era marked by conflicts and destruction, one of the major effects of war is psychological trauma and mental health. Some of the more common psychological consequences include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The causes include witnessing death or violence, sickness, or injury (Rathi). Almost everyone is affected mentally by war and violence, but the ones who face the greatest mental consequences are women, children, and the elderly (Murthy and Lakshminarayana). War impacts not only those on the frontlines but also civilians on both sides. Civilians can be branded as “collateral damage” due to the actions and events of the conflict. According to the World Health Organization, in the last 25 years of the 20th century, almost 80 percent of the populations of 22 Eastern Mediterranean countries had experienced being in a warzone (qtd. in Murthy and Lakshminarayana). Much of the population in any war-torn country experiences the negative effects of the conflict, where both the deceased and survivors are affected. The survivors are affected by different mental health disorders caused by their distinct experiences, but one of the more common psychological effects is PTSD. 

PTSD is one of the most prevalent negative mental health consequences of war and is caused by traumatic events, as the name suggests. It can lead to intrusive thoughts, mood swings, flashbacks, and potential detachment from loved ones and life in general (“What is”). Many veterans face the struggles of PTSD because some of the events they witnessed amid conflicts are unerasable and ingrained in their memories forever. While many believe that this struggle is easily overcome; in reality, the struggle continues for an extended period of time after the soldiers return home. 

Not only do veterans experience PTSD, but so do civilians who witness traumatic acts of violence, like the brutal death of a loved one. The guilt of survival and helplessness to save a  loved one can also lead to PTSD and other mental health disorders. Those who experience PTSD are often unable to be in a similar environment to that of the one they experienced. For instance, loud sounds could be a stimulus. 

It is important to note that PTSD is different for every survivor, and for some people, it will heal over time, while for others, it may never heal. In a study conducted on the mental health effects of conflicts in Iraq on Kurdish families, 45 families were studied. In the results of the study, the researchers found that 87 percent of the children experienced PTSD (qtd. in Murthy and Lakshminarayana). In another study done on children aged 10-19 in Palestine, researchers found that 97.5 percent of the children experienced some level of PTSD, and more than 80 percent of the children living in war camps experienced PTSD (qtd. in Murthy and Lakshminarayana). PTSD is a tragic yet common occurrence in the survivors of war and violence. One thing to note is that many of these children and families in war and refugee camps receive very little care and support for their mental health struggles. 

While every survivor and veteran is different, the unfortunate effect of war shared is PTSD. Research clearly shows that PTSD is prevalent and an actuality in survivors of war. The brutality and heinous acts of humans lead to pain and torment of other humans. War is an environment that no human should be experiencing, yet people are. Consequently, society should bring more awareness to the mental and psychological struggles of not only veterans and soldiers but also of the “collateral damage” to civilians. The survivors warrant support and care for their strength and resilience in war, but not everyone can be strong forever. The events they witness are sometimes more than what one person could and should bear. Civilians and soldiers alike, affected by war, often have minimal choice in their involvement. In the same way everyone else lives their lives, they are also trying to live their own lives while balancing the pain of loss and traumatic ordeals. Hence, while many derelict survivors of war experience different negative mental disorders, PTSD, a thorny bane of one’s existence, should be brought more into the limelight for treatment and research to better support all who are affected.

References

Murthy, R. Srinivasa and Rashmi Lakshminarayana. “Mental health consequences of war: a 

brief review of research findings.” World Psychiatry, vol. 5, no. 1, Feb. 2006, pp. 25-30. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472271/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023. 

Rathi, Amrita. “Psychological Impact of Victims of War and Conflict.” American Psychological 

Association, 

https://www.apa.org/international/united-nations/un-matters/rathi-war.pdf. Accessed 

2 Dec. 2023. 

“What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?” American Psychological Association, Nov. 

2022. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd. Accessed 2 Dec. 

2023.