TY - JOUR PY - 2011// TI - Natural Disaster and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Puerto Rican Children JO - Journal of abnormal child psychology A1 - Felix, Erika D. A1 - Hernández, Lino A. A1 - Bravo, Milagros A1 - Ramirez, Rafael A1 - Cabiya, Jose A1 - Canino, Glorisa SP - 589 EP - 600 VL - 39 IS - 4 N2 - We examined the persistence of psychiatric disorders at approximately 18 and 30 months after a hurricane among a random sample of the child and adolescent population (4-17 years) of Puerto Rico. Data were obtained from caretaker-child dyads (N = 1,886) through in person interviews with primary caretakers (all children) and youth (11-17 years) using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children IV in Spanish. Logistic regressions, controlling for sociodemographic variables, were used to study the relation between disaster exposure and internalizing, externalizing, or any disorder. Children's disaster-related distress manifested as internalizing disorders, rather than as externalizing disorders at 18 months post-disaster. At 30 months, there was no longer a significant difference in rates of disorder between hurricane-exposed and non-exposed youth. Results were similar across age ranges. Rates of specific internalizing disorders between exposed and unexposed children are provided. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0091-0627 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-010-9483-1 ID - ref1 ER -