Psychiatric symptoms and disorders among Yazidi children and adolescents immediately after forced migration following ISIS attacks

SummaryBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to evaluate psychiatric problems and disorders among Yazidi Kurd refugee children and adolescents, who were assessed immediately after their forced migration following life-threatening attacks by ISIS terrorists.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the psychiatric assessments of 38 Yazidi children and adolescents (age 2–18, mean 12 years, m:f = 16:22), which were performed upon their arrival at the refugee camp.ResultsAll children and adolescents exhibited psychiatric problems and disorders, 50 % had one, and 50 % had more than one. The most relevant problems were disturbed sleeping (71 % of children), followed by depression (36.8 %), conversion disorders (28.9 %), adjustment (21.8 %), acute (18.4 %) and posttraumatic stress (PTSD, 10.5 %) disorders, and non-organic enuresis (18.4 %).ConclusionOur study confirms the results of previous studies, asserting that refugee children and adolescents do not just suffer from PTSD but from various other problems that are already present in the first days of resettlement. Children and adolescents living in refugee camps urgently need psychosocial support.ZusammenfassungHintergrundDas Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, psychische Probleme und Störungen bei jesidisch-kurdischen Flüchtlingskindern und Jugendlichen, die unmittelbar nach erzwungener Migration aufgrund von lebensbedrohlichen Angriffen der IS-Terroristen untersucht wurden, zu erfassen.MethodeDie Autoren haben die psychiatrischen Diagnosen von 38 jesidischen Kindern und Jugendlichen (im Alter von 2 bis 18 Jahren, Altersdurchschnitt: 12 Jahre, 16 männlich, 22 weiblich), welche bei ihrer Ankunft im Flüchtlingslager durchgeführt wurden, retrospektiv analysiert.ErgebnisseAlle Kinder und Jugendlichen zeigten psychische Probleme und Störungen, wobei 50 % eine und 50 % mehr als eine Störung zeigten. Die wichtigsten Probleme waren Durchschlafstörungen (71 % der Kinder), gefolgt von Depression (36,8 %), Konversionsstörungen (28,9 %), Anpassungsstörung (21,8 %), akute (18,4 %) und posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS, 10,5 %) und nichtorganische Enuresis (18,4 %).SchlussfolgerungUnsere Studie bestätigt die Ergebnisse früherer Studien, dass Flüchtlingskinder und Jugendliche nicht nur an PTBS leiden, sondern auch an verschiedenen anderen Problemen, die bereits in den ersten Tagen ihrer Unterbringung präsent sind. Kinder und Jugendliche, die in den Flüchtlingslagern leben, brauchen dringend psychosoziale Unterstützung.

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