Post traumatic stress disorder among adults in the aftermath of 2011 Van-Ercis earthquake

Abstract

Objective: The aims of the study were to: (i) screen for PTSD among subjects older than 15 years old living in the Ercis-Van region nine months after the earthquake; and (ii) examine the socio-demographic, clinical and trauma-related factors of PTSD diagnosis. Method: At the time of the earthquakes, the population of Ercis-Van region was 1,050,000. We selected 1498 participants in these areas: 996 from Van and 502 from Ercis, centers using a stratified sampling frame (Kish design). Demographic information, trauma related experiences and past psychiatric history was obtained via sociodemographic survey. The PTSD module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), along with depression, dysthymia, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder structured interview modules were used to directly elicit clinical information. Results: We found that PTSD was prevalent 35.5% among Van earthquake survivors. Analysis of binary Logistic regression showed risk factors, which included some trauma related losses, pre and post traumatic experiences. These risk factors are being female, having depression, loosing any family members or relatives, being unemployed, having serious familial conflicts, severe financial loss, and temporary relocation. Discussion: Our results indicate that in addition to being women, having depression, trauma related losses, like previous traumatic experiences, some pre and post traumatic risk factors are important for development of PTSD. Therefore, after the traumatic event, community based interventions should be structured based on these pre and post disaster risk factors.

Keywords

• traumatic stress
• community psychiatry
• mental health