Ataques de Nervios and their Psychiatric Correlates in Puerto Rican Children From Two Different Contexts

    Authors

    I. Lopez; F. Rivera; R. Ramirez; P. J. Guarnaccia; G. Canino;H. R. Bird

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.

    Keywords

    Ataques de nervios; Puerto Rican children; culture-bound syndromes; child psychopathology; cross-cultural psychiatry; DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR DISORDERS; ANXIETY SENSITIVITY; PANIC DISORDER; COMMUNITY VIOLENCE; CHILDHOOD TRAUMA; ADOLESCENTS; YOUNG; RISK; DISSOCIATION; RELIABILITY; Clinical Neurology; Psychiatry

    Abstract

    Among Latino adults and children, ataques de nervios has been associated with an array of psychiatric disorders. Using data from a probability sample of Puerto Rican children, aged 5 to 13 years (N = 2491), we assessed the lifetime prevalence and psychiatric correlates of ataques in youth residing in the South Bronx, New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Baseline site comparisons indicated that between 4% and 5% of children had a lifetime prevalence of ataques (either by child or parent report) and that ataques were associated with greater global impairment and a host of childhood disorders within the previous twelve months. Ataques were also correlated with greater exposure to violence, as well as more stressful life events for the South Bronx sample. After controlling for several covariates, ataques continued to be significantly associated with psychopathology. Ataques are, therefore, a significant correlate of global impairment and childhood psychopathology among Puerto Rican youth.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

    Volume

    197

    Issue/Number

    12

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    923

    Last Page

    929

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000272856500009

    ISSN

    0022-3018

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