17th International ESCAP Congress 2017
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Contribution title 3459 - POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A 30 case study
Contribution code PS01-85 (P)
Authors
  1. Nesrine Ben Mabrouk Mongi Slim Hospital
  2. Soumaya Bourgou Mongi Slim Hospital
  3. Meriem Hamza Mongi Slim Hospital
  4. Abir Ben Hammouda Mongi Slim Hospital
  5. Fatma Charfi Mongi Slim University Hospital, Tunisia
  6. Ahlem Belhadj Mongi Slim Hospital
  7. Ghofrane Ben Alaya Razi Hopsital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Departement Presenter
Form of presentation Poster
Topic
  • Trauma
  • Adolescent
Abstract OBJECTIVES: Describe socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHODS : Retrospective and descriptive study conducted at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Mongi Slim Hospital (Tunisia) from January 2013 until July 2016. We included all cases of patients followed for PTSD ( DSM 5). Data was collected from their records.

RESULTS :
30 cases were identified. The average age was 8,48 years . The sex ratio was 1,14. Poor family functioning was reported in the quarter of cases. Most of them had a low socioeconomic status (83%). Half of the patients had personal medical and psychiatric background. The period separating the examination and the beginning of the facts was about 12 months.
The majority of patients (63, 4%) witnessed a traumatic event occurring to others, while 33,3% experienced it directly and 1 child learned the death of a parent (3,3%). Physical aggression was the highly reported, followed by psychological and sexual abuse (respectively 60%, 45% and 37,7%). 14% had a road accident. A repetitive event was found in 34,5% of cases. The traumatic event occurred mostly at home (40%) and was mainly acted by a neighbor (28%). Hyper arousal and intrusion symptoms were predominant. The majority of patients (66%) have developed psychiatric comorbidity (depression, school phobia, stuttering, separation anxiety and elimination disorders). Of these, one child became blind after the trauma and one attempted suicide.

CONCLUSION : Most children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events will develop various reactions ranging from minor disruptions, to severe and persistent symptoms. Practitioners therefore need to be able to recognize and treat post-traumatic stress reactions in children in order to decrease debilitating consequences.