When the earth stops shaking: Earthquake sequelae among children diagnosedfor pre-earthquake psychopathology

Objective: To examine risk and protective processes for posttraumatic stres s reactions and negative sequelae following the Northridge earthquake (EQ) among youths diagnosed for pre-EQ psychopathology. Method: Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, general anxiety, and social i mpairment were evaluated using telephone interviews among 66 children parti cipating in a family-genetic study of childhood-onset depression at the tim e of the EQ. Results: Significant predictors of PTSD symptoms 1 year after the EQ included perceived stress and resource loss associated with the EQ, a pre-EQ anxiety disorder. and more frequent use of cognitive and avoidance coping strategies. PTSD symptoms were associated with high rates of concur rent general anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and social adjustment p roblems with friends. The only significant correlation between sibling scor es was on measures of sibling reports of objective exposure. Conclusions: P reexisting anxiety disorders represent a risk factor for postdisaster PTSD reactions. Postdisaster services need to attend to the needs of these youth s as well as those of youths experiencing high levels of subjective stress, resource loss, and/or high exposure. That children within families show si gnificant variation in postdisaster reactions underscores the need for atte ntion to individual child characteristics and unshared environmental attrib utes.