# Does war increases the risk for psychoses?

**Authors:** P. Falkai

PMC · DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.66 · 2024-08-27

## TL;DR

This paper explores how war increases the risk of mental health issues, including psychosis, and emphasizes the need for better strategies to address these problems.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the mental health impact of war, particularly the risk of psychosis, and calls for improved understanding and strategies.

## Key findings

- Around 10% of people in armed conflict experience serious mental health problems.
- War causes more mortality and disability than major diseases.
- Conflict leads to mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and psychosis.

## Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that in situations of armed conflict, “Around 10 percent of the people who experience traumatic events will have serious mental health problems, and another 10 percent will develop behavior that will hinder their ability to function effectively.” Problems include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and possibly precipitation of psychosis. War has a catastrophic effect on the health and well being of nations. Studies have shown that conflict situations cause more mortality and disability than any major disease. Only through a greater understanding of conflicts and the myriad of mental health problems that arise from them, coherent and effective strategies for dealing with such problems can be developed.

None Declared

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** post-traumatic stress disorder (MONDO:0005146), anxiety (MONDO:0005618), depression (MONDO:0002050), psychosis (MONDO:0005485)

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11862409