title: Posttraumatic stress symptoms, co-morbid psychiatric symptoms and distorted cognitions among flood victims of different ages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In literature, the effect of age on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is inconclusive; the effect on flood-related PTSD is particularly unclear. Little is known on distorted cognitions among flood victims, although cognition distortions and PTSD have been linked among victims of other traumas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate: (1) whether flood-related PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity and cognitive distortions would differ according to age and (2) distinctive patterns of association between the preceding variables for different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-four flood victims of different ages completed standardized questionnaires measuring PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity and cognitive distortions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents and young adults reported significantly fewer PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity and distorted cognition symptoms than people who were older. Preoccupation with danger and hopelessness were associated with both outcomes for adolescents, people in their thirties and middle-aged/older people. For young adults, helplessness was associated with PTSD; hopelessness and preoccupation with danger with psychiatric co-morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents and young adults buffered against flood-related psychological distress better than older people. Distorted cognitions related to distress outcomes differently depending on age.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin NT , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Man Cheung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: b Medical and Dental College, Bahria University , Karachi , Pakistan , and.
authors.forename: Sabeena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalal
authors.affiliation: c Abbasi Shaheed Hospital , Karachi , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Najib Ullah
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age differences; distorted cognitions; flood disaster; posttraumatic stress disorder