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Post-traumatic Stress Reactions in Children After the 1988 Armenian Earthquake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Robert S. Pynoos ,
Armen Goenjian ,
Madeline Tashjian ,
Meline Karakashian ,
Raffi Manjikian ,
Gagik Manoukian ,
Alan M. Steinberg  and
Lynn A. Fairbanks
Robert S. Pynoos
Affiliation:
UCLA Program in Trauma, Violence and Sudden Bereavement, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles
Armen Goenjian
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outreach Program of the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States and Medical Director, Alondra Crest Hospital, Belflower, California
Madeline Tashjian
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outreach Program of the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States
Meline Karakashian
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outreach Program of the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States
Raffi Manjikian
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outreach Program of the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States
Gagik Manoukian
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outreach Program of the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States
Alan M. Steinberg
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine
Lynn A. Fairbanks
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
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Abstract

One and a half years after the devastating earthquake in Armenia in 1988, 231 children from three cities at increasing distances from the epicentre were randomly screened in their schools to determine the frequency and severity of post-traumatic stress reactions, using the Children's Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI). A systematic clinical assessment of PTSD based on DSM-III-R criteria was also conducted on approximately half of this sample. A high CPTSD-RI score was strongly correlated with a clinical diagnosis of PTSD. A strong positive correlation was found between proximity to the epicentre and overall severity of post-traumatic stress reaction, as well as severity of core component symptoms of PTSD. High rates of chronic, severe post-traumatic stress reactions were found among children in the two most damaged cities, Spitak and Gumri. Analyses controlling for exposure revealed that girls reported more persistent fears than boys. These findings indicate that after catastrophic natural disaster, post-traumatic reactions in children may reach epidemic proportions, remain high for a prolonged period, and jeopardise the well-being of the child population of a large region. Systematic screening of children for PTSD can provide critical information for a rational public mental health programme after such a disaster.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 163 , Issue 2 , August 1993 , pp. 239 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1993 

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