Psychoemotional Regulation in Ex-Combatants Readjustment

Social Integration of Ex-combatants after Civil War

Civil war is commonly viewed as the result of a fracturing of society resulting in social disintegration. As such, post-conflict reconstruction programs often aim at social integration in order to rebuild the social fabric that existed prior to the conflict, including special programs to re-integrate ex-combatants following their disarmament and demobilisation. Yet this perception of civil war ...

Cooperation Project: Reintegration of Ex-combatants in Sierra Leone - Ex-post evaluation 2010 – Main Report

Social Cognitive Training Improves Emotional Processing and Reduces Aggressive Attitudes in Ex-combatants

Emotional processing (EP) is a complex cognitive function necessary to successfully adjust to social environments where we need to interpret and respond to cues that convey threat or reward signals. Ex-combatants have consistently shown atypical EP as well as poor social interactions. Available reintegration programs aim to facilitate the re-adaptation of ex-combatants to their communities. How...

Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Somali ex-combatants: A validation study

BACKGROUND In Somalia, a large number of active and former combatants are affected by psychological problems such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder impairs their ability to re-integrate into civilian life. However, many screening instruments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder used in post-conflict settings have limited validity. Here we report on development and validation o...

Violent Offending Promotes Appetitive Aggression Rather than Posttraumatic Stress—A Replication Study with Burundian Ex-Combatants

Research has identified appetitive aggression, i.e., the perception of committed, violent acts as appealing, exciting and fascinating, as a common phenomenon within populations living in precarious and violent circumstances. Investigating demobilized soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) demonstrated that violent offending is associated with appetitive aggression and not necessaril...