Over-time changes in PTSD and depression among children surviving the 1999 Istanbul earthquake

Objective  To follow-up on child and adolescent victims with full criteria of PTSD and depression, and to examine the impact of treatment. Method  One to two months following a 7.4-magnitude quake in Turkey, 160 students were examined by self-report questionnaire, psychiatric interview, clinician-administered post-traumatic stress disorder scale (CAPS), and depression and anxiety inventories. At baseline, 96 students were diagnosed with PTSD, and 49 had comorbid depression with anxiety symptoms. After 18–20 months, 74 of 96 students were found and reassessed by psychiatric interview and CAPS; 25 had been treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmocotherapy, and 49 did not have any treatment. Binary logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of persistent PTSD. Variables entered included pre-quake, quake and post-quake factors, having co-morbid depression upon initial interview, receipt of drug therapy, and number of months of CBT. Results  At follow-up, many had symptoms of PTSD with anxiety, but only 14 subjects met the full criteria of PTSD, and four students had major depression with anxiety symptoms. Only one variable—having been in serious personal danger during the quake (e.g., trapped in the house or under rubble)—was significantly associated with being symptomatic at follow-up. Conclusion  Regardless of receipt of treatment, diagnoses of PTSD and depression were much reduced. More research is needed about resiliency factors.     

Posttraumatic stress symptoms in parentally bereaved children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To compare parentally bereaved children with a disaster comparison group and a nontrauma control group on measures of emotional adjustment. METHOD: Children and adolescents who had lost a parent (n = 39), had experienced a tornado disaster (n = 69), or were coping with an ongoing social or academic stressor (n = 118) completed measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Risk factors for symptoms among the bereaved children also were evaluated. RESULTS: Parentally bereaved children reported significantly more PTSD symptoms than the disaster and nontrauma control groups. Among the bereaved children, girls, younger children, and children living with a surviving parent who scored high on a measure of posttraumatic stress reported more symptoms. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents who have lost a parent could be vulnerable to PTSD symptoms.     

Children of terrorism survivors: Physiological reactions seven years following a terrorist incident

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine psychiatric illness and physiological indicators in the children of Oklahoma City bombing survivors seven years after the event.

Methods

A study of 17 Oklahoma City bombing survivors and their 21 adolescent and young-adult children conducted seven years after the disaster used structured diagnostic interviews to examine psychiatric outcomes. Physiological measurements included heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and physiological reactivity measured in response to a semi-structured bombing-reminder interview.

Results

Results revealed a statistically significant positive association between survivors and their children with respect to both post-disaster and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also, children whose parents met diagnostic criteria for either post-disaster or current major depression were more likely to meet criteria for a post-disaster behavior disorder and for any post-disaster psychiatric disorder than children whose parents did not meet criteria for post-disaster or current major depression. Survivors' children meeting criteria for any post-disaster psychiatric diagnosis had higher heart rates during the pre-test, test, and post-test periods than children who did not meet criteria for any disorder. Children whose survivor parents met criteria for bombing-related PTSD and for any post-disaster psychiatric disorder had greater heart rate reactivity than those whose parents did not.

Conclusion

Findings of this study support previous literature on the relationships between children's psychiatric illness and physiological reactions and suggest interactions between disaster survivors' psychiatric illness and their children's psychiatric and physiological status.     

Pharmacogenomics and therapeutic prospects in dementia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive and anxiety disorders, or any other mental disorder among adult victims treated in a hospital at different points in time after the 11 March 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 56 individuals injured in the attacks was interviewed in person at one, six, and twelve months after the attacks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Current DSM-IV mental disorders: depressive disorders and anxiety disorders (PTSD, generalised anxiety, agoraphobia, social phobia, and panic disorder) were assessed with the Spanish version of the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), a structured, lay-administered psychiatric interview. RESULTS: PTSD was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder (35.7% at month 1, 34.1% at month 6, and 28.6% at month 12), followed by major depression (28.6%, 22.7%, and 28.6%, respectively). Others relevant conditions were suicide risk, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), agoraphobia, and panic disorder. No significant differences in the prevalence of the disorders were found between the different assessment times. Patients with a psychiatric history prior to 11 March had a higher prevalence of PTSD, major depression, GAD, and panic disorder at month 1. Females had higher prevalence of PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic disorder at month 1. The only predictive factor for PTSD at month 12 was PTSD at month 6 (OR = 14.007). The only predictive factor for major depression at month 12 was major depression at month 6 (OR = 15.847). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PTSD and major depression was high and remained stable between month 1, month 6, and month 12. The only predictive factor for PTSD at month 12 was PTSD at month 6.     

Associations between anxiety disorders and physical illness

Abstract. Objective: In contrast to the literature on the association of depression with medical illness, less is known about the comorbidity among anxiety and somatic disorders. Although associations between anxiety disorders and medical illnesses have been reported, prior studies have not adjusted for the effects of gender, substance abuse/dependence, and depression. This study examined the patterns of comorbidity of anxiety disorders and physical illnesses. Method: A total of 262 probands were selected from treatment settings or were randomly recruited from the community. DSM-III-R diagnoses were obtained based on direct interview (SADS) or family history information, and lifetime history of numerous medical illnesses were obtained. Results: Patients with a lifetime anxiety disorder reported higher rates of several medical illnesses than did persons without anxiety. After controlling for the effects of gender, comorbid substance abuse/dependence and/or depression, significant associations were found between anxiety disorder and cardiac disorders (OR = 4.6), hypertension (OR = 2.4), gastrointestinal problems (OR = 2.4), genitourinary disorders (OR = 3.5), and migraine (OR = 5.0). A similar pattern was observed for probands with panic or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Conclusions: Anxiety disorders were associated with a specific pattern of cardiac disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, genitourinary difficulties, and migraine; individuals presenting with anxiety disorders or medical illness need therefore to be evaluated carefully for comorbidity.     

The Association between General and Pathological Dissociation and Disaster-Related Psychopathology in Directly Exposed Survivors

Objective: Dissociation and trauma have a well-documented relationship, and dissociation is assumed to result from trauma exposure. If trauma generates dissociative psychopathology, it should be observed after exposure to disaster and be associated with disaster-related psychopathology. Few studies have focused specifically on dissociation as an outcome of disaster trauma. This study examined dissociation and its association with disaster-related psychopathology in survivors of five different disasters.

Methods: In the first 6 postdisaster months, directly exposed survivors (N = 216) of mass shootings, floods, or a firestorm completed structured diagnostic interviews providing lifetime predisaster and postdisaster prevalent/incident psychiatric diagnoses and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) 1–3 years after baseline.

Results: DES scores were very low; only 1% met the DES Taxon signifying pathological dissociation. In multivariate models including predisaster lifetime major depression, lifetime panic disorder, lifetime generalized anxiety disorder, and lifetime alcohol use disorder; disaster-related PTSD; and number of incident somatoform symptoms as independent covariates, predisaster lifetime major depression and alcohol use disorder were independently associated with both general (DES score) and pathological (DES Taxon) dissociation, and postdisaster incident somatization symptoms were also associated with general dissociation, but postdisaster psychopathology including disaster-related PTSD was not associated with general or pathological dissociation.

Conclusions: Neither general nor pathological dissociation was independently associated with disaster-related PTSD or other incident psychopathology. The only psychiatric disorders associated with dissociation were present before the disasters. Coupled with the low dissociation rates, these findings indicate that dissociation does not appear to be a mental health outcome of disaster trauma.     

Posttraumatic stress disorder in hospitalized adolescents: psychiatric comorbidity and clinical correlates

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnostic comorbidity and clinical correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: Seventy-four adolescent inpatients were given a structured diagnostic interview, the revised version of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents, and a battery of standard self-report measures to assess general trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, suicidal behavior, dissociation, and depression. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of subjects reported exposure to at least one traumatic event such as being a witness/victim of community violence, witnessing family violence, or being the victim of physical/sexual abuse. Thirty-two percent of subjects met diagnostic criteria for current PTSD, with sexual abuse cited as the most common traumatic stressor in 69% of PTSD cases. Girls were significantly more likely to develop PTSD than boys, although the total number of types of trauma did not differ by gender. Compared with psychiatric controls, male youngsters with PTSD were significantly more likely to have comorbid diagnoses of eating disorders, other anxiety disorders, and somatization disorder. Furthermore, male and female youngsters with PTSD were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide and report greater depressive and dissociative symptoms. CONCLUSION: In clinical populations of hospitalized adolescents exposed to multiple forms of trauma, PTSD is a common, but highly comorbid disorder. Specific multimodal assessments and treatments targeted to both PTSD and its comorbidity profile are warranted.     

Psychopathological sequelae of the 11 March terrorist attacks in Madrid

Objective To describe the prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive and anxiety disorders, or any other mental disorder among adult victims treated in a hospital at different points in time after the 11 March 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid. Design, Setting, and Participants A random sample of 56 individuals injured in the attacks was interviewed in person at one, six, and twelve months after the attacks. Main Outcome Measures Current DSM-IV mental disorders: depressive disorders and anxiety disorders (PTSD, generalised anxiety, agoraphobia, social phobia, and panic disorder) were assessed with the Spanish version of the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), a structured, lay-administered psychiatric interview. Results PTSD was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder (35.7% at month 1, 34.1% at month 6, and 28.6% at month 12), followed by major depression (28.6%, 22.7%, and 28.6%, respectively). Others relevant conditions were suicide risk, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), agoraphobia, and panic disorder. No significant differences in the prevalence of the disorders were found between the different assessment times. Patients with a psychiatric history prior to 11 March had a higher prevalence of PTSD, major depression, GAD, and panic disorder at month 1. Females had higher prevalence of PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic disorder at month 1. The only predictive factor for PTSD at month 12 was PTSD at month 6 (OR = 14.007). The only predictive factor for major depression at month 12 was major depression at month 6 (OR = 15.847). Conclusion The prevalence of PTSD and major depression was high and remained stable between month 1, month 6, and month 12. The only predictive factor for PTSD at month 12 was PTSD at month 6.     

Psychopathological status, behavior problems, and family adjustment of Kuwaiti children whose fathers were involved in the first gulf war

Objectives

Following the end of the Gulf War that resulted in the liberation of Kuwait, there are no reports on the impact of veterans' traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on their children. We compared the severity of anxiety, depression, deviant behavior and poor family adjustment among the children of a stratified random sample of four groups of Kuwaiti military men, viz: the retired; an active -in-the-army group (AIA) (involved in duties at the rear); an in-battle group (IB) (involved in combat); and a prisoners -of- war (POWs) group. Also, we assessed the association of father's PTSD/combat status and mother's characteristics with child psychosocial outcomes.

Method

Subjects were interviewed at home, 6 years after the war, using: the Child Behavior Index to assess anxiety, depression, and adaptive behavior; Rutter Scale A2 for deviant behavior; and Family Adjustment Device for adjustment at home. Both parents were assessed for PTSD.

Results

The 489 offspring (250 m, 239 f; mean age 13.8 yrs) belonged to 166 father-mother pairs. Children of POWs tended to have higher anxiety, depression, and abnormal behavior scores. Those whose fathers had PTSD had significantly higher depression scores. However, children of fathers with both PTSD and POW status (N = 43) did not have significantly different outcome scores than the other father PTSD/combat status groups. Mother's PTSD, anxiety, depression and social status were significantly associated with all the child outcome variables. Parental age, child's age and child's level of education were significant covariates. Although children with both parents having PTSD had significantly higher anxiety/depression scores, the mother's anxiety was the most frequent and important predictor of child outcome variables. The frequency of abnormal test scores was: 14% for anxiety/depression, and 17% for deviant behavior.

Conclusion

Our findings support the impression that child emotional experiences in vulnerable family situations transcend culture and are associated with the particular behavior of significant adults in the child's life. The primacy of the mother's influence has implications for interventions to improve the psychological functioning of children in such families. Mental health education for these families has the potential to help those in difficulty.     

Executive functioning in offspring at risk for depression and anxiety

Background: Executive functioning deficits (EFDs) have been found in adults with major depression and some anxiety disorders, yet it is unknown whether these deficits predate onset of disorder, or whether they reflect acute symptoms. Studies of at‐risk offspring can shed light on this question by examining whether EFDs characterize children at high risk for depression and anxiety who are not yet symptomatic. Methods: This study examined neuropsychological functioning in a sample of 147 children, ages 6–17 years (M age=9.16, SD=1.82), of parents with major depression (MDD) and/or panic disorder (PD) and of controls with neither disorder. Children were assessed via structured diagnostic interviews and neuropsychological measures. Results: Although parental MDD and PD were not associated with neuropsychological impairments, presence of current offspring MDD was associated with poorer performance on several executive functioning and processing speed measures. Children with current generalized anxiety showed poorer verbal memory, whereas children with social phobia had more omissions on a continuous performance task. Conclusions: Findings suggest that EFDs do not serve as trait markers for developing anxiety or depression but appear to be symptomatic of current disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Does post-traumatic stress disorder occur after stroke: a preliminary study

Background and purpose. Psychological reactions after stroke have been recognized for some time. The present study examined whether psychological symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could occur after stroke as a consequence of the sudden and unpredictable occurrence of a life-threatening internal stressor. Methods. Sixty-one patients who had experienced a first-ever stroke or transient ischaemic attack were assessed using standard self-report clinical measures for anxiety, depression and PTSD. Those patients who fulfilled criteria on at least one PTSD self-report measure were subsequently assessed using a structured clinical interview for PTSD. Results. Six (9·8%) patients fulfilled criteria for PTSD. No significant differences were found between the post-stroke PTSD group and the non-PTSD group in terms of premorbid health and lifestyle, or experiences of adverse life events. Significant differences were noted with respect to self-reported post-stroke mental health and premorbid neuroticism. The post-stroke PTSD group also scored consistently higher on measures of anxiety, depression and psychiatric caseness. Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate a number of close similarities between post-stroke PTSD and classical PTSD. We therefore conclude that PTSD or a PTSD-like syndrome can occur after stroke. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A cross-sectional study on the mental health of patients with COVID-19 1 year after discharge in Huanggang,China

Objective

This study is aimed to investigate the mental health status of COVID-19 survivors 1 year after discharge from hospital and reveal the related risk factors.

Methods

From April 11 to May 11, 2021, 566 COVID-19 survivors in Huanggang city were recruited through their primary doctors. A total of 535 participants (94.5%) admitted to participate in the survey and completed the questionnaires. Five scales were applied including 7-Items Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Fatigue Scale-14. The chi-square and the Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate the classification data, multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the related factors of sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Results

One year after being discharged, of the 535 COVID-19 survivors, 252 (47.1%) had poor sleep quality; 157 (29.3%) had the symptoms of fatigue; 84 (15.7%),112 (20.9%), and 130 (24.3%) suffered from symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, respectively. The logistic regression analysis showed that history of chronic disease was risk factor for poor sleep quality (OR 2.501; 95% CI, 1.618–3.866), fatigue (OR 3.284; 95% CI 2.143–5.033), PTSD (OR 2.323; 95% CI 1.431–3.773) and depression (OR 1.950; 95% CI 1.106–3.436) in COVID-19 survivors. Smoking contributed to the poor sleep quality (OR 2.005; 95% CI 1.044–3.850), anxiety (OR 4.491; 95% CI 2.276–8.861) and depression (OR 5.459; 95% CI 2.651–11.239) in survivors. Drinking influenced fatigue (OR 2.783; 95% CI 1.331–5.819) and PTSD (OR 4.419; 95% CI 1.990–9.814) in survivors. Compared with college-educated survivors, survivors with high school education were at higher risk for poor sleep quality (OR 1.828; 95% CI 1.050–3.181) and PTSD (OR 2.521; 95% CI 1.316–4.830), and survivors with junior high school education were at higher risk for PTSD (OR 2.078; 95% CI 1.039–4.155). Compared with overweight survivors (BMI ≥ 23.0), survivors with normal BMI (18.5–22.9) (OR 0.600; 95% CI 0.405–0.889) were at lower risk for fatigue. While being housewife (OR 0.390; 95% CI 0.189–0.803) was protective factor for fatigue and having more family members was protective factor for PTSD (OR 0.404 95% CI 0.250–0.653) in survivors.

Conclusions

One year after infection, poor sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, still existed in a relatively high proportion of COVID-19 survivors. Chronic disease history was an independent risk factor for poor sleep quality, fatigue, depression, and PTSD. Participants with low education levels were more likely to have mental problems than the others. We should focus on the long-term psychological impact of COVID-19 on survivors, and the government should apply appropriate mental health services to offer psychiatric support.

     

The emotional distress in a community after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center

Objectives: To examine psychological impact of the September 11th disaster on the immediate neighborhood of the New York World Trade Center. Methods: 555 residents from the local Chinatown community participated in the study. They were surveyed retrospectively on their emotional distress immediately after the tragedy and five months later. Results: Prevalent anxiety was found in general community residents and additional depression in those who lost family members or friends. The mental health condition of the community improved tremendously five months later, with the initial 59% of general residents having 4 or more emotional symptoms dropping to 17%. However, More than half of the community residents had persistently shown one or more symptoms of emotional distress. Those who had lost a family member or friend in the disaster showed significantly higher distress, with 90% of them had four or more major psychiatric symptoms during the first few weeks right after the disaster, and the rate dropped to 35% five months later. Overall, those in their 40s and 50s seemed to have had relatively higher emotional distress than both younger and older groups. Discussion: Methodological limitations were discussed concerning retrospective reporting and sample characteristics.     

EMDR therapy in children and adolescents who have post-traumatic stress disorder: a six-week follow-up study

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore whether eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective therapy and to investigate whether EMDR affects anxiety levels for children and adolescents.

Methods: We conducted this study with 30 clients. The clients completed self-administered questionnaires Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index Scale and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The questionnaires were conducted before the therapy and 6?weeks after the completion of the therapy.

Results: Nineteen clients (63%) had only one traumatic event, but 11 clients (37%) had more than one traumatic event. While the mean score on the PTSD symptom scale was 60 (±8.7), this rate decreased to 24 (±10.1), whereas the mean STAI-T scale was 59 (±8.9) before treatment and 41 (±11.5) after treatment. We found a statistically significant difference between symptom scores as quantified by both questionnaires before and after EMDR therapy (p?<?.05).

Conclusions: As a result, we have shown that EMDR is an effective method for children and adolescents with PTSD in terms of both post-traumatic and anxiety symptom levels; however, we recommend a larger sample size with a control group to further establish the effectiveness of EMDR therapy in children.

• KEY POINTS

• PTSD is a common disorder in children and adolescents.

• Additional psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression are common in children and adolescents with PTSD.

• In PTSD cases applying for psychiatric treatment, trauma associated with sexual abuse is more pronounced and complex.

• EMDR is an effective therapy in children and adolescents as well as in adults.

• There is a statistically significant decrease at anxiety and PTSD symptom scores as quantified by questionnaires in patients with PTSD after EMDR therapy.

     

Mental health problems among children and adolescents experiencing two major earthquakes in remote mountainous regions: A longitudinal study

ObjectiveMillions of children were exposed to major earthquake in China, with serious psychological and developmental consequences. To obtain accurate rate of post-disaster related disorder and identify predictors may help inform post-disaster rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The present longitudinal study explored correlations of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of juvenile survivors of the Ya'an and Wenchuan earthquakes in China with their trajectories of post-disaster related disorder.MethodsA total of 435 Chinese children and adolescents who survived the 2013 Ya'an earthquake were recruited from six primary, secondary and high schools in Baoxing County. All survivors were assessed at 12 months after the disaster, when a trained psychiatrist assessed mental health problems in a face-to-face structured interview, and 153 survivors were followed up at 30 months after the earthquake via telephone.ResultsThe 12-month assessment indicated a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence of 43.9% as well as depression (20.9%) or the criteria for both PTSD and depression (18.2%) and the other disorder (0.9%). The 30-month assessment indicated that 15.7% of subjects met the criteria for PTSD, 21.6% met the criteria for depression. No subjects met the criteria for other affective or anxiety disorders. Significant predictors of PTSD and depression were death in the family, previous earthquake experience, a poor parent–child relationship and economic pressure or poverty.LimitationsClinical interview face to face is quite different from via telephone and the attrition rate in the longitudinal cohort is high, which would directly affect our results of the assessment.ConclusionsPTSD and depression may be as prevalent and persistent in disaster victims in China as elsewhere, and high co-comorbidities remain poorly understood. Although many adolescents recover over time, some exhibit chronic, delayed-onset PTSD and depression, especially those with poor relationships with their parents or those living in precarious economic conditions. Family-based therapy may be needed to support child and adolescent trauma survivors in order to prevent mental illness.     

Psychiatric disorders and left-handedness in children living in an urban environment

The objective of this study was to conduct an analysis of left-handed children treated in an urban mental health clinic to investigate the frequency and severity of psychiatric disorders compared to right-handed peers. Data on handedness, diagnoses, hospitalizations and severity of mental disorders were collected on 692 consecutive children, 4–18 years old (M = 10.1, SD = 3.2), referred for psychiatric evaluation. Left-handed children were 18.2% of patients in the study, a rate significantly higher than left-hand dominance in the USA (p < .05). Compared to children with right-handedness, logistic regression analysis yielded 31% [odds ratio (OR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–1.50] higher odds of having more psychiatric diagnosis, 70% (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.10–2.62) increased odds of anxiety, 53% (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03–2.27) increased odds of depression and 78% (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.21–2.62) increased odds of oppositional defiant disorder for children who were left-handed. Left-handed children had increased odds of being prescribed antipsychotic and anxiolytic medication uses, 53% and 86% increased odds, respectively, and 66% (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.08–2.55) increased odds of psychiatric hospitalizations. Left-handedness was a phenotypic risk factor for psychiatric disorders and increased severity of psychiatric disorders.     

Mental health problems of second generation children and adolescents with migration background

Objective: Despite the growing number of young second-generation immigrant (SGI) children and adolescents, studies about their mental health are rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the mental health problems of SGI children and adolescents in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods: In a clinical sample the mental health of 54 SGIs and 50 native children and adolescents were examined using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and Children’s Global Assessment Scale. The assessments were carried out by a blinded rater.

Results: SGI children had higher rates of psychiatric disorders such as depression (p?=?0.001), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (p?=?0.011) and anxiety disorders (p?=?0.013), more comorbid disorders and lower functionality scores compared to their native counterparts (p?=?0.001).

Conclusions: SGI children seem to have higher rates of psychiatric disorders most probably due to migration-induced burdens. The professionals treating SGI children should have more awareness for these problems to be able to approach them in a culture and language sensitive way.     

Familial psychiatric illness in chronic posttraumatic stress disorder

One hundred and eight veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared with 60 age-matched controls with regard to family history of psychiatric illness. Depressed controls had a higher morbidity risk (MR) for depression and generalized anxiety in siblings/parents and children, respectively. Patients with PTSD did not differ from alcoholics or nonpsychiatric controls on the basis of family history. PTSD was associated with greater familial anxiety when compared with controls who had experienced combat. When World War II and Vietnam veterans with PTSD were compared, a higher MR for alcohol and drug abuse was found in siblings/parents of Vietnam veterans, and a higher MR was found for other chronic psychiatric disorders in the children of Vietnam veterans.     

Depression in men in the postnatal period and later child psychopathology: a population cohort study

ObjectivePostnatal depression in women is associated with adverse effects on both maternal health and children's development. It is unclear whether depression in men at this time poses comparable risks. The present study set out to assess the association between depression in men in the postnatal period and later psychiatric disorders in their children and to investigate predisposing factors for depression in men following childbirth.MethodA population-based cohort of 10,975 fathers and their children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) was recruited in the prenatal period and followed for 7 years. Paternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and later child psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV) with the Development and Well-Being Assessment.ResultsDepression in fathers in the postnatal period was significantly associated with psychiatric disorder in their children 7 years later (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.07-2.77), most notably oppositional defiant/conduct disorders (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.04-3.61), after adjusting for maternal depression and paternal educational level. A history of severe depression and high prenatal symptom scores for depression and anxiety were the strongest predictors of paternal depression in the postnatal period.ConclusionsDepression in fathers in the postnatal period is associated with later psychiatric disorders in their children, independently of maternal postnatal depression. Further research into the risks associated with paternal psychopathology is required because this could represent an important opportunity for public health intervention.     

Homicide as a risk factor for PTSD among surviving family members.

In this National Institute of Justice-funded study, random digit dialing telephone survey methodology was used to screen a large, nationally representative sample (N = 12,500) of the noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population to identify surviving family members and friends of victims of criminal homicide and alcohol-related vehicular homicide. A total of 9.3% of the national sample had lost a family member or friend to homicide. Immediate family survivors (n = 206) completed an interview assessing demographic characteristics and DSM-III-R criteria for homicide-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The interview participation rate was 84%. Among immediate family survivors, 23.3% developed PTSD at some point in their lifetimes, and 4.8% met full diagnostic criteria for PTSD during the preceding 6 months. Survivors of criminal and vehicular homicide victims were equally likely to develop PTSD. Survivors who experienced the homicide during their childhood, adolescence, or adulthood also showed equal likelihood of PTSD. Clinical implications of findings are discussed.