Psychiatric Disorders in Children at One Year after the Tsunami Disaster in Thailand
Vinadda Piyasil MD*, Panom Ketumarn MD**, Ratanotai Prubrukarn MD*, Siripapa Pacharakaew MD***, Hattaya Dumrongphol MD**, Sarinee Rungsri MD****, Nantawat Sitdhiraksa MD**, Nattorn Pitthayaratsathien MD*****, Jiraporn Prasertvit MD******, Korapin Sudto MD*****, Siriporn Theerawongseree MD*****, Sumitra Aowjinda MD*, Somchit Thaeramanophab MD*, Vajiraporn Jotipanu MD*, Wilairatana Chatchavalitsakul MD*
Affiliation : * Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Department of Medical Services, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok ** Department of Psychiatry, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok *** Saraburi Hospital, Saraburi **** Ayuthaya Hospital, Ayuthaya ***** Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok ****** Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Background : The tsunami that struck Thailand on 26th December 2004 was the greatest natural disaster in the
country’s history. It left in its wake unprecedented damage and destruction. Children suffered the loss of
parents or guardians, and survivors were left to cope with psychological trauma of the disaster.
Objective : To assess the psychiatric disorders in tsunami victim children at one year after the event.
Material and Method: A cross sectional study was done. One thousand three hundred and sixty-four students
from 2 schools were enrolled. Three tests were used according to the students’ grades, pediatric symptoms
checklist, Childhood Depressive Inventory and the Revised Child Impact of Events scale (CRIES). Psychiatric
disorders were diagnosed by child and adolescent psychiatrists, using criteria from the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM IV). Analysis data by using SPSS version 10.0 and
Chi-square test. The results were presented as percentage and p-value.
Results : Psychiatric disorders were found in 142 students or 10.4 percents of all students at one year after the
tsunami disaster. Not all the students who had psychiatric disorders developed them as the result of the
tsunami disaster. However, ninety students or 6.3 percent of all the students did have psychiatric disorders
resulting from the tsunami disaster. The most common psychiatric problem was post traumatic stress disorder.
Ten percent of grade 4-6 students and 11 percent of grade 7-9 students had psychiatric disorders. The
prevalence was lower in kindergarten and grade 1-3 students of which the percentage was 2.3 and 3.8
respectively.
Conclusion : The prevalence of psychiatric disorders at 1 year after the tsunami disaster was 10.4 percent of all
the students or 33.1 percent of victims. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in grade 4-6 and 7-9 students
was higher than in kindergarten and grade 1-3 students. The most common psychiatric problem is post
traumatic stress disorder.
Keywords : Tsunami in Thailand, Psychiatric disorders, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
