Posttraumatic stress in Nepalese and Spanish children: A comparative study

espanolLa exposicion a eventos potencialmente traumaticos en Nepal constituye el punto de partida en la evaluacion de la sintomatologia asociada entre los menores nepalies, especialmente aquellos en situacion de orfandad. Conocer la prevalencia del Trastorno de Estres Postraumatico (TEPT) en funcion de la tutela, y establecer comparaciones con poblacion occidental como la espanola, permitiria delimitar las implicaciones intrafamiliares y socioculturales en el trauma infantojuvenil, valorando a su vez la conveniencia de sensibilizar los criterios diagnosticos. Con una muestra de 88 participantes con edades entre los 11 y los 14 anos empleamos la Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (CPSS), aplicando tanto criterios DSM-5 generales como criterios alternativos adaptados a la infancia. Los resultados mostraron una mayor prevalencia de TEPT en poblacion general nepali (46.7%) con respecto a la muestra de tutelados (11.1%), reduciendose significativamente en el grupo de menores espanoles (6.1%), segun criterios DSM-5 generales. Al utilizar criterios alternativos, observamos un aumento en la prevalencia, alcanzando el 73.3%, 22.2% y 14.3% respectivamente. Estos datos permitieron valorar los factores de proteccion en el orfanato frente al entorno intrafamiliar del grupo control, asi como apreciar las variables socioculturales en ambos paises, apoyando la mayor sensibilidad de criterios alternativos en el diagnostico de TEPT infantojuvenil. EnglishFrequent and repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events in Nepal is the starting point for the associated symptomatology evaluation in Nepalese children, especially among those in care. Reviewing the prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD ) in the tutelage condition, and establishing comparisons with Spain as an occidental population, would allow delimiting family and socio- cultural implications in child and youth trauma, assessing the sensitization convenience for diagnostic criteria in this age range. With a sample of 88 participants between 11 and 14 years old, we used the Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (CPSS), employing both DSM- 5 general criteria and childhood adapted alternative criteria. Our results showed higher PTSD prevalence in the Nepalese general population (46.7%) compared with the sample of children in care (11.1%), being significantly reduced in Spanish minors (6.1%), following DSM- 5 general criteria. When using alternative criteria, we observed an increase in prevalence rates, reaching 73.3%, 22.2% and 14.3%, respectively. These data enabled us to consider the protection factors at the assessed orphanage compared to the Nepalese general population family environment, and appreciate the socio-cultural variables between countries, supporting at each comparison the alternative criteria highest sensitivity in children and adolescent PTSD diagnosis.