Psychiatric Diagnoses in the Context of Life Circumstances: The Role of Trauma, Education and Family History
Alen Omanovic1, Nermina Babic2, Akif Mlaco3,4
1 Family Medicine Department, Health Care Centre Visoko, Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 Clinic for Heart, Blood Vessel and Rheumatism, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4 Department for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Corresponding Author: Alen Omanovic MD. Family Medicine Department, Health Care Centre Visoko, 71300 Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina; email: alen-omanovic@hotmail.com; phone: +387 32 741 222; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7755-7796.
Cite this article: Omanovic A, Babic N, Mlaco A. Psychiatric Diagnoses in the Context of Life Circumstances: The Role of Trauma, Education, and Family History. Sar Med J 2025; 2(2):122-128. 
10.70119/0040-25
Pages: 122 – 128 / Published online: 21 December 2025
Original submission: 21 August 2025; Revised submission: 26 September 2025; Accepted: 29 November 2025
Abstract
Introduction. Psychiatric disorders frequently co-occur with chronic somatic diseases, trauma, and family psychiatric history, but their distribution across demographic and social groups is less clear.
Methods. We analyzed 500 patients diagnosed according to ICD-10, examining associations with age, gender, education, employment status, trauma exposure, family psychiatric history, and chronic somatic conditions. Statistical analyses included χ² tests and ANOVA.
Results. Affective disorders were most prevalent (67%), particularly among women (72.8% vs. 58.3% in men) and retirees (76.1%). Schizophrenia was more frequent in men (22.1% vs. 13.6% in women) and unemployed participants (26.1%). Substance use and personality disorders were more common in men. Trauma exposure (87–91%) and family history (63–69%) were widespread and strongly associated with schizophrenia. Hypothyroidism was significantly more frequent in women and showed distinct psychiatric patterns: patients with hypothyroidism more often had affective disorders, whereas anxiety disorders were more frequent in those without.
Conclusion. Psychiatric diagnoses are closely intertwined with demographic and social factors, trauma, family history, and somatic comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for integrated, multidisciplinary care and systematic screening for somatic diseases to improve outcomes in psychiatric populations.
Keywords: Age, Comorbidity, Mental Disorders, Sex, Somatic Diseases.
