Long-term psychological outcome of 1999 Taiwan earthquake survivors: a survey of a high-risk sample with property damage.
OBJECTIVE
Severe natural disasters can cause long-term psychological impact on the survivors. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychiatric morbidity among survivors of the severe earthquake that occurred in Chi-Chi, Taiwan, in September 21, 1999.


METHODS
A total of 6412 earthquake survivors whose houses were destroyed by earthquake were recruited about 2 years after the disaster. They completed a self-report questionnaire assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms, psychiatric morbidity, and information of demographics, trauma exposure, and current living status.


RESULTS
The estimated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder caseness and psychiatric morbidity were 20.9% and 39.8%, respectively. Psychiatric morbidity occurred mainly in survivors who were female, older, with low education level, and currently living in a prefabricated house. The risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder caseness were female sex, currently living in a prefabricated house, low education level, and experienced complete destruction of property.


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that severe earthquake can cause long-term psychological impact in the survivors. The findings of risk factors suggest avenues for targeting postdisaster interventions.
Chen
Chin-Hung
CH
Department of Psychiatry, Tsao-Tun Psychiatric Center, Nantou, Taiwan.
Tan
Happy Kuy-Lok
HK
Liao
Long-Ren
LR
Chen
Hsiu-Hsi
HH
Chan
Chang-Chuan
CC
Cheng
Joseph-Jror-Serk
JJ
Chen
Chung-Ying
CY
Wang
Tsu-Nai
TN
Lu
Mong-Liang
ML
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004190:Disasters; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014202:Tremor / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology