Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities
Introduction: In Colombia, children are frequently exposed to traumatic events; however, there are no data regarding the impact on depression, anxiety and somatic correlates of such exposure in children living in rural communities. Objective: To investigate the somatic complaints and symptoms of dep...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Publicaciones UIS
2013-08-01
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| Series: | Salud UIS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0121-08072013000200003&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797701831687667712 |
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| author | Ruby C. Castilla Puentes Ivan S. Gomez Morad Sandra R. Castilla Puentes Wilma I. Castilla Puentes M. Claudia Caballero Badillo Gilma Puentes de Contreras Miguel E Habeych Sanmiguel |
| author_facet | Ruby C. Castilla Puentes Ivan S. Gomez Morad Sandra R. Castilla Puentes Wilma I. Castilla Puentes M. Claudia Caballero Badillo Gilma Puentes de Contreras Miguel E Habeych Sanmiguel |
| author_sort | Ruby C. Castilla Puentes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: In Colombia, children are frequently exposed to traumatic events; however, there are no data regarding the impact on depression, anxiety and somatic correlates of such exposure in children living in rural communities. Objective: To investigate the somatic complaints and symptoms of depression and anxiety among children exposed to traumatic events in a rural community of Colombia. Methods: Design: Cross-Sectional study. Participants: Two hundred and ninety-three Colombian children aged eight to 18 years. Main Outcome Measures: Standardized measures were administered to assess children's depression, anxiety, physical symptoms and exposure to traumatic events. Depression: CDI (Children's Depression Inventory); anxiety: SCARED (The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders); somatic complaints: CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist, Somatic Complaints scale) and reporting traumatic events during the K-SADS-PL (Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents). Results: Ninety-one of the 293 children (31.1%) reported somatic complaints. The most common somatic complaint was in the gastrointestinal category (35/91). One hundred and seventy eight children (60.5%) had observed traumatic events, including homicides during the last month. Two hundred five (69.9%) of the children showed depressive symptom profiles above established norms, and 239 (81.6%) exhibited anxiety symptoms according to their own reports. The correlation between depression and traumatic events, anxiety and somatic complaints, and between anxiety and depression were statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusions: As the first study of its kind in children living in rural communities in Colombia, it demonstrates a clear impact of traumatic events on mental health. Information that somatic complaints are commonly an expression of underlying depression and anxiety may facilitate the treatment and thereby help avoid unnecessary medical workups and sequelae from traumatized children. It is important for physicians to probe for "hidden" symptoms in traumatized children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:41:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c770669128694331af2cbeb3694949ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0121-0807 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:41:23Z |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
| publisher | Publicaciones UIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Salud UIS |
| spelling | doaj.art-c770669128694331af2cbeb3694949ed2023-09-03T09:38:28ZengPublicaciones UISSalud UIS0121-08072013-08-01452919S0121-08072013000200003Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural CommunitiesRuby C. Castilla Puentes0Ivan S. Gomez Morad1Sandra R. Castilla Puentes2Wilma I. Castilla Puentes3M. Claudia Caballero Badillo4Gilma Puentes de Contreras5Miguel E Habeych Sanmiguel6Temple UniversityRosario's UniversityRegional HospitalRegional HospitalUniversidad Industrial de SantanderUniversidad Industrial de SantanderUniversity of PittsburghIntroduction: In Colombia, children are frequently exposed to traumatic events; however, there are no data regarding the impact on depression, anxiety and somatic correlates of such exposure in children living in rural communities. Objective: To investigate the somatic complaints and symptoms of depression and anxiety among children exposed to traumatic events in a rural community of Colombia. Methods: Design: Cross-Sectional study. Participants: Two hundred and ninety-three Colombian children aged eight to 18 years. Main Outcome Measures: Standardized measures were administered to assess children's depression, anxiety, physical symptoms and exposure to traumatic events. Depression: CDI (Children's Depression Inventory); anxiety: SCARED (The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders); somatic complaints: CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist, Somatic Complaints scale) and reporting traumatic events during the K-SADS-PL (Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents). Results: Ninety-one of the 293 children (31.1%) reported somatic complaints. The most common somatic complaint was in the gastrointestinal category (35/91). One hundred and seventy eight children (60.5%) had observed traumatic events, including homicides during the last month. Two hundred five (69.9%) of the children showed depressive symptom profiles above established norms, and 239 (81.6%) exhibited anxiety symptoms according to their own reports. The correlation between depression and traumatic events, anxiety and somatic complaints, and between anxiety and depression were statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusions: As the first study of its kind in children living in rural communities in Colombia, it demonstrates a clear impact of traumatic events on mental health. Information that somatic complaints are commonly an expression of underlying depression and anxiety may facilitate the treatment and thereby help avoid unnecessary medical workups and sequelae from traumatized children. It is important for physicians to probe for "hidden" symptoms in traumatized children.http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0121-08072013000200003&lng=en&tlng=endepresiónsomatizaciónevento traumáticoansiedad |
| spellingShingle | Ruby C. Castilla Puentes Ivan S. Gomez Morad Sandra R. Castilla Puentes Wilma I. Castilla Puentes M. Claudia Caballero Badillo Gilma Puentes de Contreras Miguel E Habeych Sanmiguel Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities Salud UIS depresión somatización evento traumático ansiedad |
| title | Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities |
| title_full | Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities |
| title_fullStr | Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities |
| title_short | Depression, Anxiety and Somatic Complaints in Colombian Children Living in Rural Communities |
| title_sort | depression anxiety and somatic complaints in colombian children living in rural communities |
| topic | depresión somatización evento traumático ansiedad |
| url | http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0121-08072013000200003&lng=en&tlng=en |
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