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Prevalence and trajectory of psychopathology among child and adolescent survivors of disasters: a systematic review of epidemiological studies across 1987–2011

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Abstract

Aims

The goal of this paper was to systematically review evidence on (1) the potential magnitude of the psychopathological impacts of community-wide disasters on child and adolescent survivors, and (2) the long-term course or trajectory of disaster-induced psychopathology among children and adolescents.

Methods

The PubMed/MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were searched from their respective inception through December 2011. All of the resulting epidemiological studies of child and adolescent survivors following community-wide disasters were examined.

Results

Sixty cross-sectional studies and 25 longitudinal or long-term follow-up studies were identified. The estimated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among child and adolescent survivors varied greatly across the included studies, ranging from 1.0 to 95 % and 1.6 to 81 %, respectively, while the reported rates of diagnosable PTSD according to the DSM-IV criteria and diagnosable depression ranged from 1.0 to 60 % and 1.6 to 33 %, respectively. The long-term courses of psychopathology among youthful survivors were summarized. Methodological issues with those studies were discussed.

Conclusions

The empirical findings summarized in this review highlight the importance of psychosocial intervention at early postdisaster stages for child and adolescent survivors. The methodological flaws revealed by this review indicate the need for continued attempts to better understand the epidemiology and trajectory of psychopathological problems among youthful survivors.

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Acknowledgments

This review was supported by the Si Yuan Foundation. The funder had no role in review design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Chong-Wen Wang, Cecilia L. W. Chan & Rainbow T. H. Ho

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  1. Chong-Wen Wang
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  2. Cecilia L. W. Chan
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  3. Rainbow T. H. Ho
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Correspondence to Cecilia L. W. Chan.

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Wang, CW., Chan, C.L.W. & Ho, R.T.H. Prevalence and trajectory of psychopathology among child and adolescent survivors of disasters: a systematic review of epidemiological studies across 1987–2011. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1697–1720 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0731-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0731-x

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