Citation

Ceri V, Özlü-Erkilic Z, Özer Ü, Yalcin M, Popow C, Akkaya-Kalayci T. Neuropsychiatr. 2016; 30(3): 145-150.

Vernacular Title

Psychiatrische Symptome und Störungen bei jesidischen Kindern und Jugendlichen unmittelbar nach erzwungener Migration infolge von IS-Angriffen.

Affiliation

Outpatient Clinic of Transcultural Psychiatry and Migration Induced Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. tuerkan.akkaya-kalayci@meduniwien.ac.at.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Dustri-Verlag)

DOI

10.1007/s40211-016-0195-9

PMID

27628299

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The 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.

METHODS: We 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.

RESULTS: All 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 %).

CONCLUSION: Our 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.

Language: en