Political violence and mental health: A multi-disciplinary review of the literature on Nepal

Wietse A. Tol, Brandon A. Kohrt, Mark J.D. Jordans, Suraj B. Thapa, Judith Pettigrew, Nawaraj Upadhaya, Joop T.V.M. de Jong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Implementation of current international consensus guidelines regarding mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies requires the consideration of findings from both the medical and social sciences. This paper presents a multi-disciplinary review of reported findings regarding the relations between political violence, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Nepal. A systematic search of six databases resulted in the identification of 572 studies, of which 44 were included in the review. These studies investigated the influence of political violence on contextual variables that shape mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, and examined psychological distress and mental disorders in the context of political violence. The majority of studies addressed the mental health of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and the impact of the Maoist People's War. Based upon these results from Nepal, we discuss a number of issues of concern to international researchers and practitioners and present policy and research recommendations. Specifically, we consider (a) the need for longitudinal multi-disciplinary research into protective and risk factors, including agency, of psychological distress and mental disorders in situations of political violence, (b) the continuing controversy regarding the PTSD construct, and (c) the lack of robust findings regarding the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)35-44
Number of pages10
JournalSocial Science and Medicine
Volume70
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Armed conflict
  • Mental health
  • Nepal
  • Political violence
  • Psychosocial
  • Review
  • War
  • Wellbeing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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