Traumatic experiences of conditional refugee children and adolescents and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder: data from Turkey

Abstract

Aim

We aimed to determine traumatic events, mental health problems and predictors of PTSD in a sample of conditional refugee children.

Methods

The sociodemographic features, chief complaints, traumatic experiences and psychiatric diagnoses according to DSM-5 were evaluated retrospectively.

Results

20.7% (n = 70) of children experienced the armed conflict or exposed to firefights at their country of origin. Most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders (n = 82, 24.3%), major depressive disorder (n = 52, 15.4%) and PTSD (n = 43, 12.7%). Age, number of traumatic experiences, explosion and sexual violence are the most important predictors for PTSD.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the number of traumas exposed as well as their nature predicted PTSD diagnosis. Refugee children have increased risk for psychiatric problems after migration and resettlement underlining the importance of an adequate follow-up for mental health and ensuring social support networks.

Keywords:

• Refugee
• mental health
• children
• adolescent
• post-traumatic stress disorder

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Çiğdem Yektaş

Dr. Çiğdem Yektaş (M.D.) is Associated Professor in Uskudar University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Hakan Erman

Dr. Hakan Erman (M.D.) is specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry in Guven Hospital.

Ali Evren Tufan

Dr. Ali Evren Tufan (M.D.) is Professor in Abant Izzet Baysal University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.