Psychopathology among New York city public school children 6 months after September 11.
BACKGROUND
Children exposed to a traumatic event may be at higher risk for developing mental disorders. The prevalence of child psychopathology, however, has not been assessed in a population-based sample exposed to different levels of mass trauma or across a range of disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence and correlates of probable mental disorders among New York City, NY, public school students 6 months following the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
New York City public schools.


METHODS
A citywide, random, representative sample of 8236 students in grades 4 through 12, including oversampling in closest proximity to the World Trade Center site (ground zero) and other high-risk areas.


METHODS
Children were screened for probable mental disorders with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Predictive Scales.


RESULTS
One or more of 6 probable anxiety/depressive disorders were identified in 28.6% of all children. The most prevalent were probable agoraphobia (14.8%), probable separation anxiety (12.3%), and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (10.6%). Higher levels of exposure correspond to higher prevalence for all probable anxiety/depressive disorders. Girls and children in grades 4 and 5 were the most affected. In logistic regression analyses, child's exposure (adjusted odds ratio, 1.62), exposure of a child's family member (adjusted odds ratio, 1.80), and the child's prior trauma (adjusted odds ratio, 2.01) were related to increased likelihood of probable anxiety/depressive disorders. Results were adjusted for different types of exposure, sociodemographic characteristics, and child mental health service use.


CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of New York City public school children had a probable mental disorder 6 months after September 11, 2001. The data suggest that there is a relationship between level of exposure to trauma and likelihood of child anxiety/depressive disorders in the community. The results support the need to apply wide-area epidemiological approaches to mental health assessment after any large-scale disaster.
Hoven
Christina W
CW
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032, USA. ch42@columbia.edu
Duarte
Cristiane S
CS
Lucas
Christopher P
CP
Wu
Ping
P
Mandell
Donald J
DJ
Goodwin
Renee D
RD
Cohen
Michael
M
Balaban
Victor
V
Woodruff
Bradley A
BA
Bin
Fan
F
Musa
George J
GJ
Mei
Lori
L
Cantor
Pamela A
PA
Aber
J Lawrence
JL
Cohen
Patricia
P
Susser
Ezra
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*