ABSTRACT

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to contribute to the literature on treating earthquake-affected victims with a multidisciplinary perspective by presenting the sociodemographic and consultation characteristics of earthquake-surviving children and adolescents who were hospitalized and consulted at the University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Adana City Training and Research Hospital within one month after the February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes.

Materials and Methods

The data of patients consulted in child psychiatry, who were hospitalized at University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Adana City Training and Research Hospital between February 6-March 6 2023, and who experienced the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes were reported in the study.

Results

The study included 103 children and adolescents for whom child psychiatry consultation was requested; 54 (52.4%) were girls, and 49 (47.6%) were boys. Child psychiatry consultations were mostly requested by pediatricians. Psychosocial support was the most common reason for requesting consultations with pediatric psychiatrists (63.1%). As a result of the psychiatric evaluation of the patients, the most common diagnosis was acute stress disorder (89.3%). Psychopharmacologic treatment was not initiated in 71 (68.9%) patients after psychiatric evaluation, whereas psychopharmacologic treatment was initiated in 32 (31.1%) patients after psychiatric evaluation. Melatonin was recommended for 28 (27.2%) patients, and hydroxyzine dihydrochloride was recommended for four (4.9%) patients who initiated psychopharmacological treatment.

Conclusion

In this study, considering that physical and mental health are inseparable in natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, it is recommended that children and adolescents affected by earthquakes be evaluated, followed up, and treated with a multidisciplinary approach from the perspective of consultation-liaison psychiatry to prevent possible mental health problems.