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Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Mclaughlin, KA; Fairbank, JA; Gruber, MJ; Jones, RT; Lakoma, MD; Pfefferbaum, B; Sampson, NA; Kessler, RC
Published in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
November 2009

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of serious emotional disturbance (SED) among children and adolescents exposed to Hurricane Katrina along with the associations of SED with hurricane-related stressors, sociodemographics, and family factors 18 to 27 months after the hurricane. METHOD: A probability sample of prehurricane residents of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina was administered a telephone survey. Respondents provided information on up to two of their children (n = 797) aged 4 to 17 years. The survey assessed hurricane-related stressors and lifetime history of psychopathology in respondents, screened for 12-month SED in respondents' children using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and determined whether children's emotional and behavioral problems were attributable to Hurricane Katrina. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of SED was 14.9%, and 9.3% of the youths were estimated to have SED that is directly attributable to Hurricane Katrina. Stress exposure was associated strongly with SED, and 20.3% of the youths with high stress exposure had hurricane-attributable SED. Death of a loved one had the strongest association with SED among prehurricane residents of New Orleans, whereas exposure to physical adversity had the strongest association in the remainder of the sample. Among children with stress exposure, parental psychopathology and poverty were associated with SED. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SED among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina remains high 18 to 27 months after the storm, suggesting a substantial need for mental health treatment resources in the hurricane-affected areas. The youths who were exposed to hurricane-related stressors, have a family history of psychopathology, and have lower family incomes are at greatest risk for long-term psychiatric impairment.

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Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1527-5418

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

48

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1069 / 1078

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Poverty
  • Personality Assessment
  • New Orleans
  • Mississippi
  • Mass Screening
  • Male
  • Louisiana
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Mclaughlin, K. A., Fairbank, J. A., Gruber, M. J., Jones, R. T., Lakoma, M. D., Pfefferbaum, B., … Kessler, R. C. (2009). Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 48(11), 1069–1078. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181b76697
Mclaughlin, Katie A., John A. Fairbank, Michael J. Gruber, Russell T. Jones, Matthew D. Lakoma, Betty Pfefferbaum, Nancy A. Sampson, and Ronald C. Kessler. “Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 48, no. 11 (November 2009): 1069–78. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181b76697.
Mclaughlin KA, Fairbank JA, Gruber MJ, Jones RT, Lakoma MD, Pfefferbaum B, et al. Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;48(11):1069–78.
Mclaughlin, Katie A., et al. “Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, vol. 48, no. 11, Nov. 2009, pp. 1069–78. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181b76697.
Mclaughlin KA, Fairbank JA, Gruber MJ, Jones RT, Lakoma MD, Pfefferbaum B, Sampson NA, Kessler RC. Serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina 2 years postdisaster. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;48(11):1069–1078.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1527-5418

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

48

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1069 / 1078

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Poverty
  • Personality Assessment
  • New Orleans
  • Mississippi
  • Mass Screening
  • Male
  • Louisiana
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans