Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress, Depression and Anxiety among Youths Exposed to a Massive Fire Disaster in Greece

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety among children and adolescents exposed to the 2007 fire disaster in Greece along with the relationships of these symptoms with disaster-related stressors and sociodemographic characteristics four months after the fire. Methodology: A sample of 343 youths aged 9-18 years from schools in an area severely affected by the fire completed self-reported questionnaires. The Children's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Reaction Index-Revised (CPTSD-RI-R), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) were used to assess relative symptoms, while fire-related stressors were also examined in respondents. Results: The estimated prevalence rates of high levels of PTSD, depressive and anxiety symptoms four months after the disaster were approximately 45%, 34% and 32%, respectively. Staying without both parents after the fire was strongly associated with more PTSD symptoms, while housing adversity and loss of property were most strongly associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Life-threatening experience of a loved one and worry for a loved one predicted higher levels of PTSD symptomatology, whereas injury of a loved one was associated with high levels of depressive and anxiety

Reducing Children’s Negative Emotional States through Physical Education and Sport in Disaster-Prone Areas

“…Our results are similar to the findings of Annesi (2005), confirming a significant reduction in depression for a treatment group engaged in physical activity compared to a control group who was getting no exercise. The decrease in depression is an important finding especially for children who have been traumatized after disasters (Aslam & Tariq, 2010;Kolaitis, et al, 2011;Roussos, et al, 2005). Some research has found a significant reduction in depression in various training and exercise program (Camero, Hobss, Stringer, Branscum, & Taylor, 2012;Motta, Kuligowski, & Marino, 2010;Bicer, Asghari, Kharazi, & Asl, 2012 (2012) have also demonstrated a significant reduction in students' depression rates through participation in many sports like swimming, track and field, and football.…”

Pediatric home confinement due to COVID‐19: Somatic and anxiety spectrum consequences

“…In general, anxiety disorders are the most frequent psychiatric disorders in children, with an increased prevalence of up to 21% (Creswell et al, 2014;Ruiz Sancho & Lago Pita, 2005). Moreover, evidence suggests that stressful situations can trigger psychological distress (Giannakopoulos et al, 2011;Kolaitis et al, 2003). In this regard, confinement has a profound and potentially long-lasting psychological impact; 30% of children isolated or quarantined due to pandemic disasters and subsequent disease-containment responses have reported traumatic stress (Sprang & Silman, 2013).…”

Psychotraumatology in Greece

“…The fires destroyed 1000 houses and 1100 other buildings, and damaged hundreds more. High levels of PTS, depressive and anxiety symptoms (45, 34 and 32%, respectively) were found four months after the disaster in Lakonia prefecture (Kolaitis et al, 2011). …”