Are ataques de nervios in Puerto Rican children associated with psychiatric disorder?
OBJECTIVE
To provide the first empirical analysis of a cultural syndrome in children by examining the prevalence and psychiatric correlates of ataques de nervios in an epidemiological study of the mental health of children in Puerto Rico.


METHODS
Probability samples of caretakers of children 4-17 years old in the community (N = 1,892; response rate: 90%) and in clinical services (N = 761; response rate 72%) were administered structured interviews to assess the presence and correlates of ataques de nervios.


RESULTS
Nine percent of children in the community sample and 26% of children in the clinical sample had a reported history of an ataque de nervios. In contrast to the overall community and clinical samples, which had more boys in them, the ataque de nervios groups in both samples had more girls in them. Family history of ataques de nervios was associated with ataques de nervios in children in both samples. Across a wide range of depression, anxiety, and disruptive disorders, children who reported an ataque de nervios were more likely to meet research criteria for psychiatric disorder in both samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Ataques de nervios are a frequently reported cultural syndrome among children in Puerto Rico. Adolescent girls are more likely to report this experience. Ataques de nervios have a significant relationship with psychiatric disorder and impairment in Puerto Rican children.
Guarnaccia
Peter J
PJ
Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1293, USA. guarnaccia@ihhcpar.rutgers.edu
Martinez
Igda
I
Ramirez
Rafael
R
Canino
Glorisa
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002667:Child Reactive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D011647:Puerto Rico; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013577:Syndrome