Post-traumatic stress disorder in Thai children living in area affected by the tsunami disaster: a 3 years follow-up study

Objective: To study the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Thai children and adolescents studying in the area affected by the December 26th, 2004 tsunami disaster. This prospective study was carried out during the 3 years period after the disaster. Methods: One thousand, six hundred and twenty-five surviving students from two schools in Takuapa district of Phang-nga Province participated in this cross-section study. Screening was done by using the Pediatric Symptom Checklists (PSC), the Childhood Depressive Intervention (CDI) and the Revised Child Impact of Events Scales (CRIES-8). DSM-IV PTSD was diagnosed by child and adolescent psychiatrists. Data were analysed by using SPSS version 10.0. Results: The prevalence rates of PSTD in the students facing the tsunami disaster were 57.3%, 46.1%, 31.6%, 10.4%, 7.6% and 4.5% at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 1 1/2 year , 2 years and 3 years after the disaster, respectively. Female to male ratio was 1.7:1. The peak age was 9-10 years old. Twenty-one cases (8.5%) still exhibited a wide range of PTSD symptoms but not fulfill the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Conclusions: The prevalence of PSTD in students was 57.3% at 6 weeks after the disaster. It declined sharply at 1 year after the event. Despite receiving financial, rehabilitation and mental health supports, 4.5% of the victims still fulfill the diagnostic criteria for PTSD after 3 years of the disaster.

Psychiatric disorders in children at two year after the tsunami disaster in Thailand

Objective: Psychiatric disorders caused by the tsunami disaster were investigated during two years after the event. Psychiatric diagnosis and management were evaluated at one and two years after the disaster. Methods: One thousand three hundreds and sixty four students from 2 schools were enrolled. Three tests were used according to the students’ grades. Those included pediatric symptoms checklist, Childhood Depressive Inventory and the Revised Child Impact of Events scale (CRIES). DSM-IV psychiatric disorders were diagnosed by child and adolescent psychiatrists. Results: Psychiatric disorders were found in 142 students (10.4%) at one year after the tsunami disaster. Of these, ninety students (6.3%) did develop psychiatric disorders after the event. At two years after the disaster, psychiatric disorders were found in 22 students (1.6%). The most common psychiatric problem was post traumatic stress disorder. One per cent of grade 4-6 students and 0.3% of grade 7-9 students had psychiatric disorders. The prevalence was lower in kindergarten (0.1%) and in grade 1-3 students (0.1%). Conclusion: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders declined from 10.4% at one year after the event to 1.6% at two years after the event. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in grade 4- 6 and 7-9 students was higher than that in kindergarten and grade 1-3 students. The most common psychiatric problem is post-traumatic stress disorder.