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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Impact of psychological problems in chemical warfare survivors with severe ophthalmologic complication, a cross sectional study

Authors: Gholamhosein Ghaedi, Hassan Ghasemi, Batool Mousavi, Mohammad Reza Soroush, Parvin Rahnama, Farhad Jafari, Siamak Afshin-Majd, Maryam Sadeghi Naeeni, Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Sulfur mustard (SM) has been used as a chemical warfare agent since the early twentieth century. Despite the large number of studies that have investigated SM induced ocular injuries, few of those studies have also focused on the psychological health status of victims. This study has evaluated the most prominent influences on the psychological health status of patients with severe SM induced ocular injuries.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted on 149 Iranian war veterans with severe SM induced eye injuries. The psychological health status of all patients was assessed using the Iranian standardized Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL90-R) questionnaire. The results of patients' Global Severity Index (GSI) were compared with the optimal cut-off point of 0.4 that has previously been calculated for GSI in Iranian community. The Mann-Whitney U test, T tests and effect sizes (using Cohen's d) were employed as statistical methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results

The mean age of patients was 44.86 (SD = 8.7) and mean duration of disease was 21.58 (SD = 1.20) years. Rate of exposure was once in 99 (66.4%) cases. The mean GSI (1.46) of the study group was higher compared to standardized cut off point (0.4) of the Iranian community. The results of this study showed that the mean of total GSI score was higher in participants with lower educational levels (effect size = 0.507), unemployment (effect size = 0.464) and having more than 3 children (effect size = 0.62). Among the participants, 87 (58.4%) cases had a positive psychological history for hospitalization or receiving outpatient cares previously and 62 (41.6%) cases had a negative psychological history. In addition, the mean of GSI in participants with negative psychological history was lower than those with positive psychological history (Mean Change Difference = -0.621 with SD = 0.120). There was a significant difference between positive and negative psychological history with respect to GSI (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study showed that severe ophthalmologic complications in chemical survivors are accompanied with destructive effects on psychological health status. Appropriate management may improve psychological health status in these patients.

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Title: Impact of psychological problems in chemical warfare survivors with severe ophthalmologic complication, a cross sectional study
Authors: Gholamhosein Ghaedi
Hassan Ghasemi
Batool Mousavi
Mohammad Reza Soroush
Parvin Rahnama
Farhad Jafari
Siamak Afshin-Majd
Maryam Sadeghi Naeeni
Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-10-36

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Impact of psychological problems in chemical warfare survivors with severe ophthalmologic complication, a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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