Zughbur Mohamed R, Hamam Yaser, Kagee Ashraf, Hamam Majd, Hijazi Yara M, Hamam Mohammed, Abuolwan Ola, Sayeed Shameq, Veronese Guido
Faculty of Medicine, al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine.
Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Confl Health. 2025 Jul 16;19(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s13031-025-00681-1.
Armed conflicts have a devastating effect on the civilian population, not only by direct violence but also by causing long-lasting psychiatric conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, as a result of exposure to traumatic events such as displacement, loss of loved ones, and destruction of homes. The military attack on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, compounds an environment of continuing fear, uncertainty, and loss, which markedly increases the prevalence of mental health disorders. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety, probable PTSD, and depression in the population of Gaza after one year of continuous war. This study aims to offer a comprehensive perspective on the mental health challenges experienced by the people of Gaza. Data collection was carried out between November 10, 2024, and January 10, 2025. Four hundred five participants completed an online self-reported questionnaire, distributed via emails, social media platforms, and community networks. The survey screened for symptoms of PTSD (PCL-5), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9), and included items assessing exposure to war-related experiences. The findings indicated alarmingly high rates of mental health symptoms, with 72.7% of participants reporting moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), 65% reporting moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10), and 83.5% meeting the threshold for probable PTSD (PCL-5 ≥ 33). The mean scores indicated moderate to severe symptom levels for anxiety and depression, with GAD-7 at 13.16 and PHQ-9 at 14.32. The mean PCL-5 score was 48.16, reflecting a substantial burden of PTSD symptoms among participants. A substantial proportion had lost a family member (45.7%), experienced a military siege (82.5%), witnessed someone being killed or injured (80.5%), and reported losing their work due to the conflict (42.7%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that losing a family member was significantly associated with moderate or higher levels of depression (OR = 2.395, = 0.010) and anxiety (OR = 1.929, = 0.027). Similarly, living in the northern part of the Gaza Strip was significantly associated with moderate or higher levels of depression (OR = 1.755, = 0.039) and anxiety (OR = 2.395, = 0.010). The simultaneous presence of any two of the three mental health conditions was statistically significant, with values for each pairwise association being less than 0.05. The study revealed that the population of Gaza had an extremely high prevalence of diagnosable mental disorders, as determined through validated screening tools for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. These findings have far-reaching implications, emphasizing the urgent need not only for medical and psychosocial support, but more critically, for an end to the ongoing violence that continues to devastate lives and communities.
武装冲突对平民人口具有毁灭性影响，不仅通过直接暴力，还会因接触诸如流离失所、失去亲人以及家园被毁等创伤性事件，导致长期的精神疾病，如创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、抑郁症和焦虑症。自2023年10月7日以来持续进行的对加沙的军事攻击，加剧了持续的恐惧、不确定性和损失的环境，这显著增加了心理健康障碍的患病率。本研究旨在评估持续战争一年后加沙人口中焦虑症、可能的创伤后应激障碍和抑郁症的患病率。本研究旨在全面了解加沙人民所面临的心理健康挑战。数据收集于2024年11月10日至2025年1月10日进行。405名参与者完成了一份通过电子邮件、社交媒体平台和社区网络分发的在线自我报告问卷。该调查筛查了创伤后应激障碍（PCL - 5）、焦虑症（GAD - 7）和抑郁症（PHQ - 9）的症状，并包括评估接触与战争相关经历的项目。研究结果表明心理健康症状发生率高得惊人，72.7%的参与者报告有中度至重度抑郁症（PHQ - 9≥10），65%报告有中度至重度焦虑症（GAD - 7≥10），83.5%达到可能的创伤后应激障碍阈值（PCL - 5≥33）。平均得分表明焦虑症和抑郁症的症状水平为中度至重度，GAD - 7平均分为13.16，PHQ - 9平均分为14.32。PCL - 5平均得分为48.16，反映出参与者中创伤后应激障碍症状的沉重负担。很大一部分人失去了家庭成员（45.7%），经历过军事围困（82.5%），目睹有人被杀或受伤（80.5%），并报告因冲突失去了工作（42.7%）。二元逻辑回归分析显示，失去家庭成员与中度或更高水平的抑郁症（OR = 2.395，P = 0.010）和焦虑症（OR = 1.929，P = 0.027）显著相关。同样，居住在加沙地带北部与中度或更高水平的抑郁症（OR = 1.755，P = 0.039）和焦虑症（OR = 2.395，P = 0.010）显著相关。三种心理健康状况中任意两种同时存在具有统计学意义，每个两两关联的P值均小于0.05。该研究表明，通过针对焦虑症、抑郁症和创伤后应激障碍的有效筛查工具确定，加沙人口中可诊断的精神障碍患病率极高。这些发现具有深远影响，强调不仅迫切需要医疗和心理社会支持，更关键的是，迫切需要结束持续破坏生命和社区的暴力行为。
