Evaluation of secondary post traumatic stress disorder in chemical warfare victims' children

Aims: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a problem which affects both victims’ and their families’ quality of life and experiencing Injury by each family member can affect other members of the family. This study was performed to evaluate the symptoms of secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among chemical warfare victims’ children. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 528 residents of Sardasht in year 2009. All chemical warfare victims’ children of Sardasht were evaluated in order to enter the study as case group. 5 districts of Sardasht were selected using cluster random method, from which 600 families were selected using systematic random method. Totally, 528 were eligible to take part in the study (286 as case group and 242 as control group). Presence of secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms was evaluated in both groups, using Mississippi questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 14. Results: The total Mississippi score was 128.88±13.92 in chemical warfare victims' children and 108.34±22.70 in control group (p<0.05). The total Mississippi score in chemical victims (case group's fathers) was higher than control group's fathers (p<0.05). Scores showed no significant differences between different age groups and genders. Conclusion: Fathers’ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to chemical warfare transfers to their children and must be prevented and treated as a serious problem.