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COVID-19 related posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia.
Sayed, Mohamed H; Hegazi, Moustafa A; El-Baz, Mohamed S; Alahmadi, Turki S; Zubairi, Nadeem A; Altuwiriqi, Mohammad A; Saeedi, Fajr A; Atwah, Ali F; Abdulhaq, Nada M; Almurashi, Saleh H.
  • Sayed MH; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Hegazi MA; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • El-Baz MS; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Alahmadi TS; Department of Pediatrics, Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt.
  • Zubairi NA; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Altuwiriqi MA; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Saeedi FA; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Atwah AF; Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Abdulhaq NM; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Almurashi SH; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One ; 16(8): e0255440, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1341504
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in quarantine/lockdown measures in most countries. Quarantine may create intense psychological problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) especially for the vulnerable critically developing children/adolescents. Few studies evaluated PTSD associated with infectious disasters but no Saudi study investigated PTSD associated with COVID-19 in children/adolescents. This study was undertaken to screen for PTSD in children/adolescent in Saudi Arabia to identify its prevalence/risk factors during COVID-19 pandemic and its quarantine.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted after 2 months form start of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic utilizing the original English version and an Arabic translated version for the University of California at Los Angeles Brief COVID-19 Screen for Child/Adolescent PTSD that can be parent-reported or self-completed by older children/adolescents. Participants (Saudi citizens/non-Saudi residents) were approached online via social media.

RESULTS:

Five hundred and thirty seven participants were enrolled. The participants were 262 boys and 275 girls with a mean age of 12.25±3.77 years. Symptoms of no, minimal, mild and potential PTSD were identified in 15.5%, 44.1%, 27.4% and 13.0% of children/adolescents, respectively. The age, gender, school grade, and residence were not predictive of PTSD symptoms. Univariate analysis of risk factors for PTSD revealed that work of a close relative around people who might be infected was significantly different between groups of PTSD symptoms, but this difference disappeared during multivariate analysis. Children/adolescents of Saudi citizens had significantly lower median total PTSD score than children/adolescents of expatriate families (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION:

PTSD associated with the COVID-19 and its resultant quarantine shouldn't be overlooked in different populations as it is expected in a considerable proportion of children/adolescents with variable prevalence, risk factors and severity. Parents/healthcare providers must be aware of PTSD associated with COVID-19 or similar disasters, so, they can provide children/adolescent with effective coping mechanisms.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Stress, Psychological / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0255440

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Stress, Psychological / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0255440