Posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescents after Typhoon Morakot-associated mudslides.
The aims of this study were to examine prevalence rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its associated factors and co-occurring psychological problems in a group of displaced adolescents 3 months following Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. The relationship of trauma dimension and PTSD was also explored. A total of 271 adolescents who had been evacuated from their homes participated in this school-based survey. Adolescents were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents. Subjects themselves completed the following questionnaires: an inventory of exposure experiences to Typhoon Morakot, the Chinese version of Impact of Events Scale-Revised, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Family APGAR Index. Teachers completed the Teacher's Report Form in the Achenbach system of Empirically Bases Assessment. Results revealed that the prevalence of PTSD related to Typhoon Morakot was 25.8%. Adolescents who were female, had PTSD related to previous traumatic events before Typhoon Morakot, had more exposure experiences, were physically injured, or had family member in same household died or seriously injured were more likely to have the diagnoses of PTSD. Meanwhile, adolescents with PTSD had more severe depression, internalizing, externalizing, social, thought, and attention problems than those without PTSD. Our findings indicate that specialized trauma services are needed for these youngsters to lessen prolonged vulnerabilities.
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Pinchen
P
Yang
Cheng-Fang
CF
Yen
Tze-Chun
TC
Tang
Cheng-Sheng
CS
Chen
Rei-Cheng
RC
Yang
Ming-Shyan
MS
Huang
Yuh-Jyh
YJ
Jong
Hsin-Su
HS
Yu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D055876:Landslides; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology