The crucible of Iraq--causes and consequences.

War can be seen as a crucible in which global geopolitical forces act on a population in a transformative manner. The psychological impact of war can be described in many ways, from the diagnostic to the narrative, from the intrapersonal to the relational. This paper explores whether the forces driving the conflict relate to the consequent psychological processes of those caught up in it.

Mass violence and mental health--training implications.

Mass violence carries with it an enormous impact on health; the psychological impact is well recognized but poorly understood. There is a need for health professionals around the world to learn basic issues about the psychological impact of violence and to have available more specialized training to equip them with skills necessary to work directly with victims of mass violence. Organizing mental health services in conflict and in post-conflict situations requires many skills and complex work across sectors.