Frequency of post traumatic stress disorder in children in Gaza strip

Abstract EN

Objective : to determine the frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder in children in Gaza strip attending the psychiatry clinic of the Jordanian field hospital one year after the exposure to the latest acts of war.

Methods : this study was conducted using a structured psychiatric interview based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition- Text Revised for post-traumatic stress disorder, in order to assess post-traumatic stress disorder in children referred to psychiatric clinic from pediatric and family medicine clinics with abnormal behavior.

Results : in the selected age group of children between (5-14), a total of 827 children were found to have visited the pediatric and family medicine clinics during the two months study period.

Out of the total, 196 children (23.7 %) were referred to psychiatric clinic with abnormal behavior, out of which 173 children (20.9 %) of the whole sample and (88.27 %) of the referred children were found to have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusion : the area of Gaza strip suffered to a massive extent over the past years which led to a serious frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder amongst its children.

In view of the persistent threats, siege, and lack of social and medical support, chances are little of having a decline in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a decrease in the number of new post-traumatic stress disorder cases.