Child Maltreatment and Risk of Developing Panic Symptoms among Adolescent Aged 11-17-Year-old in Karachi, Pakistan: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background The effect of childhood maltreatment in the developmental pathway of panic symptoms was not well documented specifically in Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between child maltreatment and the risk of developing Panic symptoms among adolescents aged 11–17 years in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods The sample of this study comprised of 800 adolescents aged 11–17 years from 32 systematically selected urban and peri-urban clusters of Karachi. The symptoms of panic (significant somatic symptoms) were assessed using a validated tool “SCARED” and the association between childhood maltreatment and panic symptoms was measured using a cox-proportional algorithm. Results Sixty-three percent of severely maltreated children developed Panic symptoms compared to nineteen percent of non-maltreated children. Severely maltreated Female children had approximately four times (95% CI: 2.11–6.35) the risk of panic symptoms and severely maltreated male children were three times (95% CI: 2.27–5.99) more likely to develop panic symptoms. Conclusion The current study provided evidence that maltreated children are at increased risk of developing panic symptoms later in adolescence. Interventions and policies to reduce childhood maltreatment and professional support and counseling to the victims may be an effective strategy to reduce the burden of panic symptoms to some extent.