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Abstract

BackgroundInformation on mental health sequel in adolescents following natural disasters from developing countries is scant.MethodAround one year after a super-cyclone, proportion of adolescents exhibiting post-traumatic psychiatric symptoms, prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, comorbidity and impairment of performance in school were studied in Orissa, India. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents was used for evaluation and diagnosis. The criteria for diagnoses were based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – IV.ResultsPost-disaster psychiatric presentation in adolescents was a conglomeration of PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms. The prevalences of PTSD, major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder were 26.9%, 17.6% and 12.0% respectively. Proportion of adolescents with any diagnosis was 37.9%. Comorbidity was found in 39.0% of adolescents with a psychiatric diagnosis. Adolescents from middle socioeconomic status were more affected. There were gender differences in the presentation of the symptoms rather than on the prevalence of diagnoses. Prolonged periods of helplessness and lack of adequate post-disaster psychological support were perceived as probable influencing factors, as well as the severity of the disaster.ConclusionThe findings of the study highlight the continuing need for identification and intervention for post-disaster psychiatric morbidities in adolescent victims in developing countries.

Prevalence and correlates of probable post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorders in a population with a high prevalence of HIV in Zimbabwe

“…Studies show high comorbidity between depression and PTSD in a variety of population samples, such as those from conflict or post-conflict settings (Miller & Rasmussen, 2010), refugee camps (Gerritsen et al, 2006; Momartin, Silove, Manicavasagar, & Steel, 2004) and combat situations, victims of interpersonal violence (Stein & Kennedy, 2001), or survivors of natural or human-made disasters (Fernando, Miller, & Berger, 2010; Kar & Bastia, 2006; Neria, Nandi, & Galea, 2008). Political and economic instability and disparity; poverty, with its consequences of food scarcity and lack of access to medical care and education; politically motivated violence; crime; and exposure to weather phenomena due to climate change, which impacts negatively on an agriculture-based country such as Zimbabwe, further contribute towards poor mental health outcomes (Lund et al, 2010).…”

Descriptive Characterization of Psycho-Trauma, Psychological Distress, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Children and Adolescent Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Nigeria

“…Moreover, studies have shown that stakeholders often underestimate both the intensity and duration of the stress reactions in children (5, 6). Acute stress reactions, adjustment disorder, depression, panic disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorders specific to childhood, and phobias are among mental health morbidities that have been commonly documented following disasters in children (7, 8). In a study of adolescent and youth among displaced Ethiopians, more than 90% of the sample lost their property, 70% suffered extreme thirst, and more than a third witnessed death (9).…”

Access and completion of a web-based treatment in a population-based sample of tornado-affected adolescents.

“…Adolescents exposed to natural disasters are at high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Garrison et al, 1995; La Greca, Silverman, Vernberg, & Prinstein, 1996), depression (Kar & Bastia, 2006; Warheit, Zimmerman, Khoury, Vega, & Gil, 1996), use of tobacco (Parslow & Jorm, 2006) and alcohol products (Reijneveld, Crone, Verhulst, & Verloove-Vanhorick, 2003; Rohrbach, Grana, Vernberg, Sussman, & Sun, 2009). The ability of organized care settings to render treatment to adolescents with such diagnoses is impaired after a natural disaster, however (Self-Brown, Anderson, Edwards, & McGill, 2013).…”