title: Psychiatric Morbidity and Work and Social Adjustment Among Earthquake Survivors Extricated from under the Rubble.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study examined psychiatric co-morbidity and work and social adjustment after a natural disaster among survivors who were extricated from under the rubble.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (N=40) belonging to district Muzaffarabad, a severely earthquake affected area on 8(th) October 2005, were interviewed. The examination included the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, and questions covering background characteristics and disaster exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prevalent disorders were posttaumatic stress disorder (32.5%), major depressive disorder (17.5%), dysthymia (15.0%), agoraphobia (25.0%), and panic disorder (20.0%). Moreover, 77% of the respondents have been diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. Work and soical adjustment was found to have an inverse relationship with the psychiatric co-morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small sample size and lack of comparison group from non-earthquake struck areas may limit the generalizability of the psychatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, especially depressive and anxiety disorders, are of clinical importance when considering long-term mental health effect of disasters.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shamaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Naeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aslam
keywords: Depression; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychiatric comorbidity; work and social adjustment