The Colombian conflict: a description of a mental health program in the Department of Tolima

We observed differences between the urban and rural settings in the traumatic events reported, the clinical expression of the disorders, the disorders diagnosed, and their severity. Although the duration of the treatment was limited due to security reasons and access difficulties, patient condition at last visit improved in most of the patients. These descriptive results suggest that further studies should be conducted to examine the role of short-term psychotherapy, adapted specifically to the context, can be a useful tool to provide psychological care to population affected by an armed conflict.Colombia has been seriously affected by an internal armed conflict for more than 40 years. The "guerrillas," the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), paramilitary groups and the governmental military, control different aspects of the social and political landscape. Civilian populations are the main victims of this conflict, forced to displace, suffering kidnapping, extortion, threats or assassinations.Due to the security problems, very few medical actors are present and even less mental health professionals are able to work in the region. Médecins Sans Frontières-France (MSFF) has been working in mental health support programs in the department of Tolima, Colombia, since 2002. Tolima, which groups 47 municipalities, is considered a strategic corridor in the armed conflict in Colombia, and has been occupied for more than 30 years.The MSFF mental health program in Tolima was based on a short-term multi-faceted treatment developed according to the psychological and psychosomatic needs of the population. Here, we describe the population attending during 2005-2008, as well as the psychological treatment provided during this period and its outcomes.Between 2005 and 2008, MSFF provided psychological care and treatment in Ibague, the capital of the department of Tolima, and in various rural villages. Three mental health teams provide