Assessment of Psychopathological Consequences in Children at 3 Years after Tsunami Disaster
Sirirat Ularntinon MD*, Vinadda Piyasil MD*, Panom Ketumarn MD**, Nantawat Sitdhiraksa MD**, Nuttorn Pityaratstian MD***, Tiraya Lerthattasilp MD***, Wallapa Bunpromma MD***, Thanvaruj Booranasuksakul MD***, Sunsanee Reuangsorn MD**, Salakchit Teeranukul MD**, Wanrawee Pimratana MD**
Affiliation : * Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok ** Department of Psychiatry, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok *** Department of Psychiatry, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Background : At 1 year after the Tsunami disaster, 30% of students in two high risk schools at Takuapa district
of Phang Nga Province still suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The number of patients was
sharply declined after 18 months. The psychological consequences in children who diagnosed PTSD after the
event were reinvestigated again at 3 years, as there were reports of significant comorbidity and continuing of
subsyndromal post traumatic stress symptoms in children suffered from other disasters.
Objective : To assess psychological outcomes and factors contributed at 3-year follow up time in children
diagnosed PTSD at 1-year after the Tsunami disaster.
Material and Method: There were 45 students who were diagnosed PTSD at 1-year after the disaster. At 3-year
follow up time, clinical interview for psychiatric diagnosis was done by psychiatrists.
Results : 11.1% of students who had been diagnosed as PTSD at 1- year after Tsunami still had chronic PTSD
and 15% had either depressive disorder or anxiety disorder. 25% of students completely recovered from
mental disorders. Nearly 50% of students were categorized in partial remission or subsyndromal PTSD group.
Factors which influenced long-term outcomes were prior history of trauma and severe physical injury from the
disaster.
Conclusion : Although the point prevalence of PTSD in children affected by Tsunami was declined overtime, a
significant number of students still suffer from post traumatic stress symptoms, depressive disorder or anxiety
disorder which need psychological intervention.
Keywords : Post-traumatic stress disorder, Tsunami victims, psychological trauma, long-term outcomes
