TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among young children 2 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake
JO  - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
A1  - Fujiwara, Takeo
A1  - Yagi, Junko
A1  - Homma, Hiroaki
A1  - Mashiko, Hirofumi
A1  - Nagao, Keizo
A1  - Okuyama, Makiko
SP  - 207
EP  - 215
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its association with each traumatic experience among 5- to 8-year-old children 2 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. <br><br>METHOD: Children ages 5-8 years who were in selected preschool classes on March 11, 2011, in 3 prefectures affected by the earthquake and 1 prefecture that was unaffected, participated in the study (N=280). PTSD symptoms were assessed through questionnaires completed by caregivers and interviews by psychiatrists or psychologists conducted between September 2012 and May 2013 (ie, 1.5-2 years after the earthquake). <br><br>RESULTS: Among children who experienced the earthquake, 33.8% exhibited PTSD symptoms. Of the different traumatic experiences, experiencing the earthquake and the loss of distant relatives or friends were independently associated with PTSD symptoms; prevalence ratios: 6.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.06-23.0) and 2.48 (95% CI: 1.21-5.08), respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 3 young children in the affected communities exhibited PTSD symptoms, even 2 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. These data may be useful for preventing PTSD symptoms after natural disasters and suggest the importance of providing appropriate mental health services for children. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 9).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1935-7893
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2016.101
ID  - ref1
ER  -