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

ABSTRACT

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 1.71. 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.