An epidemiologic study of posttraumatic stress disorder in flood victims in Hunan China.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the occurrence and to assess the determinants of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in flood victims.


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective study to examine the occurrence and the determinants of PTSD in victims of flood in 1998 and 1999 in Hunan, China. We used multistage sampling to select the subjects from the flood areas, and we ascertained PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews carried out by experienced research assistants using a preconstructed questionnaire. We used a multiple logistic regression model to analyze the data.


RESULTS
A total of 33 340 subjects (86.0% of the selected subjects, aged 7 years or over) in the study villages were interviewed. Among them, 2875 (8.6%) had symptoms that met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Significant risk factors for PTSD included female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.21), older age (age 18 to 59 years OR 2.28; 95%CI, 2.02 to 2.57, and age > or = 60 years OR 2.42; 95%CI, 2.05 to 2.85), flood type (collapsed embankment OR 1.84; 95%CI, 1.64 to 2.05, and flash flood OR 3.12; 95%CI, 2.76 to 3.52), and flood severity (intermediate OR 4.05; 95%CI, 3.55 to 4.62, and severe OR 2.98; 95%CI, 2.60 to 3.41).


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD is a common mental disorder in flood victims, which implies the need for improved health services, especially mental health services, for this population.
Liu
Aizhong
A
School of Public Health, Center South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. laz@xysm.net
Tan
Hongzhuan
H
Zhou
Jia
J
Li
Shuoqi
S
Yang
Tubao
T
Wang
Jieru
J
Liu
Jian
J
Tang
Xuemin
X
Sun
Zhenqiu
Z
Wen
Shi Wu
SW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology