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Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents after the Wenchuan earthquake in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2011

Z. Zhang ,
M.-S. Ran ,
Y.-H. Li ,
G.-J. Ou ,
R.-R. Gong ,
R.-H. Li ,
M. Fan ,
Z. Jiang  and
D.-Z. Fang
Z. Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
M.-S. Ran*
Affiliation:
Division of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Guam, Guam 96923, USA Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
Y.-H. Li
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
G.-J. Ou
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
R.-R. Gong
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
R.-H. Li
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
M. Fan
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
Z. Jiang
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
D.-Z. Fang*
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
*
(Email: ranmaosh@yahoo.com) [M.-S.R.]
*Address for correspondence: D.-Z. Fang, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China. (Email: dzfang@scu.edu.cn) [D.-Z.F.]
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Abstract

Background

The Wenchuan earthquake was a catastrophic earthquake in China. The aim of this study is to explore longitudinally the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in adolescents after the Wenchuan earthquake, and to identify independent predictors of PTSD.

Method

PTSD and depression symptoms among adolescents at 6, 12 and 18 months after the Wenchuan earthquake were investigated using the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Subjects in this study included 548 high school student survivors in a local boarding high school.

Results

The rates of PTSD symptoms were 9.7%, 1.3% and 1.6% at the 6-, 12- and 18-month follow-ups, respectively. BDI scores were found to be the best predictor of severity of PTSD at 6, 12 and 18 months. Gender was another variable contributing significantly to PTSD at 6 and 12 months after the earthquake. In the 12-month follow-up, home damage was found to be a predictor of severity of PTSD symptoms. Being a child with siblings was found to be a predictor of severity of PTSD symptoms at 12 and 18 months after the earthquake.

Conclusions

PTSD symptoms changed gradually at various stages after the earthquake. Depression symptoms were predictive of PTSD symptoms in the 18-month follow-up study. Other predictors of PTSD symptoms included female gender and being a child with siblings. The results of this study may be helpful for further mental health interventions for adolescents after earthquakes.

Keywords

AdolescentsChinadepressionearthquakespost-traumatic stress disorder
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 1687 - 1693
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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