Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Its Correlates Among Junior High School Students at 53 Months After Experiencing an Earthquake. (12th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Qiaolan; Jiang, Min; Yang, Yang; Zhou, Huan; Zhou, Yanyang; Yang, Min; Xu, Huanyu; Ji, Yuanyi
• Is Part Of: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 13:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 414
• Page End: 418
• Publication Date: 2018-09-12
• Subjects: adolescent, -- common mental health problem, -- earthquake, -- posttraumatic stress disorder, -- prevalence; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency management -- Planning -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2018.76
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-7893

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: To identify the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its determinants among adolescents more than 4 years after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Method: Adolescents (1, 125 total) from 2 junior high schools in areas affected by the catastrophic earthquake were followed up for 3 years. The self-rating PTSD scale based on the Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) and the Chinese Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders, 2nd Edition, Revised (CCMD-2-R) was collected at 53 months, and determinant data were collected repeatedly. Logistic regression was used for a determinants analysis. Results: The prevalence of overall PTSD was 23.4% among the sample. The risk factors for PTSD were older age (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.20~1.92), and death or injury of a family member in the earthquake (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.09~2.37). Adolescents who had moderate-to-severe common mental health problems were more likely to have PTSD symptoms, with ORs from 3.98 to 17.67 (All P <0.05). Self-esteem remained a protective factor for PTSD regardless of age, whereas positive coping was a protective factor for PTSD when adolescents were older. Conclusion: PTSD symptoms among adolescent survivors of a catastrophic earthquake seemed to persist over time. Long-term interventions are needed to alleviate PTSD symptoms among adolescent survivors. ( Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness . 2019;13:414-418)