ABSTRACT
Objectives:
This study aimed to screen sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric findings, and acute stress symptoms in earthquake-affected children and adolescents who applied to Erciyes University Medical Faculty hospitals for treatment after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.
Materials and Methods:
Between 6 February 2023-6 March 2023, 24 children aged 6-18 years old, along with their families, were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic data were collected with the assistance of a child psychiatrist. The “Acute Stress Symptoms Severity Scale-Child Form” was administered by a child psychiatrist.
Results:
The mean acute stress disorder score was 14.4±5.1 points. Girls had a mean score of 12.7±3.2, and boys had a mean score of 10.4±2.5. Scores were significantly higher in the amputation group than in the non-amputation group (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between acute stress scale scores and the age of the children (p=0.048, r=874). Regression analysis revealed associations between acute stress disorder scores and loss of mother, father, and duration of stay in the wreckage (adjusted r2=43.7).
Conclusion:
This study, the first of its kind after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, fills a gap in understanding the impact of the earthquake on children and adolescents. Older participants exhibited more acute stress symptoms. Predictive factors for acute stress disorder included amputation, loss of parents, and duration of hospital stay.
References
1
Goenjian AK, Steinberg AM, Walling D, Bishop S, Karayan I, Pynoos, R. 25-year follow-up of treated and not-treated adolescents after the Spitak earthquake: course and predictors of PTSD and depression. PsycholMed 2020; 1-13.
2
M, Farooq N, Bhatti MA, Kuroiwa C. Assessment of prevalence and determinants of posttraumatic stress disorder in survivors of earthquake in Pakistan using Davidson trauma scale J Affect Disord. 2012; 136 (3): 238-43.
3
Cero I, Kilpatrick DG. Network analysis of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a national sample of U.S. adults: implications for the phenotype and the ICD-11 model of PTSD. J Trauma Stress. 2020; 33: 52.
4
Ayub M, Poongan I, Masood K, Gul H, Ali M, Farrukh A, Shaheen A, Chaudhry HR, Naeem F. Psychological morbidity in children 18 months after Kashmir Earthquake of 2005 Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012; 43 (3): 323-336.
5
Feo P, Di Gioia S, Carloni E, Vitiello B, Tozzi AE, Vicari S. Prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents one year after the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake BMC Psychiatry. 2014; 14: 270.
6
Dai W, Chen L, Lai Z, Li Y, Wang J, Liu A. The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors after earthquakes: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Psychiatry. 2016; 16: 188.
7
Alyanak B, Ekşi A, Toparlak D, Peykerli G, Saydam R. Depremden Sonraki 2-6 Aylık Sürede Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğunun Ergenlerde Araştırılması ÇTurk J Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2000; 7 (2): 71-79.
8
Alparslan S, Koçkar Aİ, Şenol S, Maral I. Marmara Depremini Yaşayan Çocuk Ve Gençlerde Ruhsal Bozukluk Ve Kaygı Düzeyleri Turk J Child Adolesc Ment Health. 1999; 6 (3): 135-142.
9
Tang B, Deng Q, Glik D, Dong J, Zhang L. A meta-analysis of risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults and children after earthquakes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14 (12): E1537.
10
Silwal S, Dybdahl R, Chudal R, Sourander A, Lien L. Psychiatric symptoms experienced by adolescents in Nepal following the 2015 earthquakes. J Affect Disord. 2018; 234:239-246.
11
Tian Y, Wong TK, Li J, Jiang X. Posttraumatic stress disorder and its risk factors among adolescent survivors 3 years after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in China. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14:1073.
12
Sharma A, Kar N. Posttraumatic stress, depression, and coping following the 2015 Nepal earthquake: a study on adolescents.Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018;24:1-7.
13
Ma X, Liu X, Hu X, Qiu C, Wang Y, Huang Y, Wang Q, Zhang W, Li T. Risk indicators for post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents exposed to the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake in China, Psychiatry Res. 2011;189(3):385-391.
14
Saul AL, Grant KE, Carter JS. Post-traumatic reactions in adolescents: How well do the DSM-IV PTSD criteria fit the real life experience of trauma exposed youth?. J Abn Child Psychol 2008;36, 915-925.
15
Shannon MP, Lonigan CJ, Finch AJ, Taylor CM. Children exposed to disaster: I. Epidemiology of post-traumatic symptoms and symptom profiles.J Am Acad Child AdolescPsychiatry. 1994; 33: 80-93.
16
Furr JM, Comer JS, Edmunds JM, Kendall PC. Disasters and youth: a meta-analytic examination of posttraumatic stress. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010; 78 (6): 765-780.
17
Breslau N, Peterson EL, Schultz LR. A second look at prior trauma and the posttraumatic stress disorder effects of subsequent trauma: a prospective epidemiological study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008; 65: 431-7.
18
2023 Kahramanmaraş ve Hatay Depremleri Raporu. Tc Strateji ve Bütçe Başkanlığı. TÜRKONFED. (2023). Afet ön değerlendirme durum raporu. [22 Şubat 2023 tarihindehttps://turkonfed.org/tr/detay/3937/2023-kahramanmaras-depremi-afet-ondegerlendirme-durum-raporu adresinde erişildi].
19
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington D.C: American Psychiatric Association 2013.
20
Kilpatrick DG, Resnick HS, Friedman MJ. Severity of Acute Stress Symptoms-Child Age 11-17 (National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale). 2013.
21
Sapmaz SY, ErkuranHO, Ergin D, CelasinNS, KaraarslanD, OzturkM, KorogluE, AydemirO. Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of DSM-5 “Severity of Acute Stress Symptoms-Child Age 11-17 Form. Dusunen Adam J Psychiatry Neurol Sci2017; 30 (1): 32-38.
22
Berkem M, Bildik T. İzmit Depreminde Hospitalize Edilen Depremzede Çocuk ve Ergenlerin Klinik Özellikleri, Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg. 2001;2(3):133-140.
23
Roussos A, Goenjian AK, Steinberg AM, Sotiropoulou C, Kakaki M, Kabakos C, Karagianni S, Manouras V. Posttraumatic stress and depressive reactions among children and adolescents after the 1999 earthquake in Ano Liosia, Greece. Am J Psychiatry. 2005; 162:5307.
24
Pynoos RS, Goenjian A, Tashjian M, Karakashian M, Manjikian R, Manoukian G, Steinberg AM, Fairbanks LA. Posttraumatic stress reactions in children after the 1988 Armenian earthquake. Br J Psychiatry. 1993; 163:23947.
25
Bulut S, Tayli A. The dose of exposure and prevalence rates of post traumatic stress disorder in a sample of Turkish children eleven months after the 1999 Marmara earthquakes. Sch Psychol Int. 2005; 26:5570.
26
Toyabe S, Shioiri T, Kuwabara H, Endoh T, Tanabe N, Someya T, Akazawa K. Impaired psychological recovery in the elderly after the NiigataChuetsu Earthquake in Japan: A populationbased study. BMC Public Health. 2006; 14;6:230.
27
Roncone R, Giusti L, Mazza M, Bianchini V, Ussorio D, Pollice R, Casacchia M. Persistent fear of aftershocks, impairment of working memory, and acute stress disorder predict post-traumatic stress disorder: 6-month follow-up of help seekers following the L’Aquila earthquake. Springerplus. 2013;2(1):636.
28
Doocy S, Daniels A, Packer C, Dick A, Kirsch TD. The human impact of earthquakes: a historical review of events 1980-2009 and systematic literature review. PLoS Curr. 2013; 16:5.
29
Bondjers K, Willebrand M, Arnberg FK. Similarity in symptom patterns of posttraumatic stress among disaster-survivors: A three-step latent profile analysis. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2018; 9: 1546083.
30
Fong KN, Law Y, Luo L, Zhao ZE, Chen H, Ganesan B, Lai AWY, Lee BHC, Leung ANT, Liu KYS, Wong C, Law YM, Li C, Wong MS, Shum D. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an earthquake experience: a cross-sectional survey of Wenchuan earthquake victims with physical disabilities 10 years later. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduc. 2022; 80: 103225.
31
Sattler DN, de Alvarado AMG, de Castro NB, Male RV, Zetino AM, Vega R. El Salvador earthquakes: relationships among acute stress disorder symptoms, depression, traumatic event exposure, and resource loss. J. Trauma. Stress. 2006;19, 879-893.
32
Sabuncuoğlu O, Çevikaslan A, Berkem M. Marmara Depreminden Etkilenen İki Ayrı Bölgede Ergenlerde Depresyon, Kaygı ve Davranış. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 2003; 6;189-197.
33
Cheng J, Liang Y, Fu L, Liu Z. Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms in children after the Wenchuan earthquake. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2018; 9(1); 1472992.
34
McDermott BM, Palmer LJ. Postdisaster emotional distress, depression and event related variables: Findings across child and adolescent developmental stages. Australian N Z Psychiatry. 2002; 36:75476.
35
Davis L, Siegel LG. Posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: A review and analysis. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2000; 3:135-154.