Psychiatric Manifestations Following the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquakes: A Focus on Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: The Kahramanmaras earthquakes occurred on February 6, 2023. Two powerful earthquakes, occurring 9 hours apart, resulted in over 50000 deaths and affected more than 14 million people. This study assessed different characteristics among affected children and adolescents and identified vulnerable groups. This study aimed to evaluate post-earthquake psychiatric symptoms among children and adolescents, determine the prevalence of acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among affected children and adolescents, and identify personal and event-related factors that influence these outcomes.

Methods: Patients admitted to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic or consulted from the emergency and pediatric inpatient clinics were evaluated for the effect of personal and event-related factors, including demographic variables, pre-event mental state, loss of relatives and assets owned, and medical/surgical requirements, on their mental health.

Results: The study revealed that sleep problems were prevalent as the primary psychiatric symptom among children and adolescents following the earthquake. The incidence of ASD remained similar between age groups, while PTSD was more commonly observed in adolescents. Patients experiencing the loss of family members or friends, as well as those whose homes collapsed or suffered extensive damage, and those who sustained physical injuries, exhibited a higher prevalence of ASD and PTSD compared to the other patients.

Conclusion: Current findings reveal that the delivery of intensive psychological support in the early stages is crucial to prevent further mental problems in vulnerable groups following an earthquake.

Figure 1.

Flow chart of the inclusion process between February and August 2023.

Figure 2.

Psychiatric symptoms of the cases.