Psychopathology among New York City public school children 6 months after September 11
Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Medical Association
Abstract
Children exposed to a traumatic event may be at higher risk for developing mental disorders. The prevalence of child psychopathology, however, has not been assessed in a population-based sample exposed to different levels of mass trauma or across a range of disorders. This study aims to determine prevalence and correlates of probable mental disorders among New York City public school students 6 months after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Using a citywide, random, representative sample of 8,236 students in grades 4-12, children were screened for probable mental disorders with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Predictive Scales. 1 or more of 6 probable anxiety/depressive disorders were identified in 28.6% of all children. The most prevalent were agoraphobia (14.8%), separation anxiety (12.3%), and PTSD (10.6%). Higher levels of exposure correspond to higher prevalence for all probable anxiety/depressive disorders. Girls and children in grades 4 and 5 were the most affected. In logistic regression analyses, child’s exposure, exposure of a child’s family member, and the child’s prior trauma were related to increased likelihood of probable anxiety/depressive disorders. The data suggest that there is a relationship between level of exposure to trauma and likelihood of child anxiety/depressive disorders in the community. The results support the need to apply wide-area epidemiological approaches to mental health assessment after any large-scale disaster. (Author Abstract) [CVRL Note: Tables are included summarizing the researchers' findings regarding the sociodemographic and exposure of students polled, prevalence of probable mental disorder by exposure, and prevalence by sex and grade group.]
Description
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Article
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Keywords
Survey Results, Adolescence, Adolescent, Child, Girls, Mental Health Disorders, Student, Urban, Youth, Prevalence, Gaps in Knowledge, Terrorism, Children Exposed to Violence, Fatalities, Lethality, Mass Violence, Substance Use Disorder, Witness to Violence, Anxiety, Depression, Mass Casualties, Posttraumatic Stress, Post-Traumatic Stress, PTSD, Psychological Consequences, Trauma
Citation
Hoven, C. W., Duarte, C. S., Lucas, C. P., et al. (2005). Psychopathology among New York City public school children 6 months after September 11. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(5), 545–551. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.5.545