The War Events Questionnaire

Author(s): AlAtrash, R., Saliba, S., Melhem, N., Howard, D.

Journal/Book: Soc Psychiat Psychiat Epidem. 1999; 34: Platz der Deutschen Einheit 25, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany. Dr Dietrich Steinkopff Verlag. 265-274.

Abstract: Background: The measurement of exposure to war in large epidemiological studies necessitates the use of easily administered and reliable questionnaires that cover a range of war events. The War Event Questionnaire (WEQ) was designed by our group to address these issues and has proved to be quite easy to administer. The aim of this study is to establish the inter-rater reliability of the WEQ. Method: Two trained interviewers alternated in administering parts I and II of the WEQ. Results: The Kappa statistics used to calculate the degree of agreement between the two raters ranged from 0.281 to 0.774 for part I events and from 0.189 to 1.000 for part II events. Conclusion: The WEQ has proved to be a useful instrument that addresses both objective and the subjective war experiences; it is a fairly reliable instrument and has helped us avoid tautological assessment of the mental health effects of war.

Note: Article Karam EG, St Georges Hosp, Dept Psychiat, POB 166378, Beirut, LEBANON

Keyword(s): POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER; COMBAT EXPOSURE; PSYCHIATRIC CONSEQUENCES; VIETNAM VETERANS; MENTAL-HEALTH; TRAUMA; CHILDREN; REFUGEES; EXPERIENCE; AGREEMENT

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