Comparative study on the symptoms of PTSD and depression of the children exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake 2 and 3 years after it
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-6554.2012.05.019
- VernacularTitle:汶川地震后2～3年灾区儿童创伤后应激障碍及抑郁症状的对照研究
- Author:
Na DU
;
Jing YAN
;
Cuizhen ZHU
;
Yi HUANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Earthquake;
Children;
Post-traumatic stress disorder;
Depression;
Comparative study
- From:
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science
2012;21(5):447-449
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo examine the mental health status and its changes among children exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake 2 and 3 years after it has passed,and evaluate the possible influencing factors of mental health.MethodsThe General questionnaire,the self-reported Children's revised impact of event scale(CRIES)and the Depression self-rating scale for children ( DSRSC ) were administered to the same children from the earthquake affected areas 2,3 years after the earthquake.ResultsBoth of the CRIES scores and DSRSC scores had decreased over the 2,3 years periods after the earthquake ( z =- 8.772,P =0.00; z=- 2.870,P =0.00 ).The risk factors associated with PTSD 3 years after the earthquake were:gender (OR =1.069,P =0.00 ),the severity of their family's injury( OR =1.141,P =0.02 ),the length of living in transferred safe places( OR =1.416,P =0.03 ),and whether or not witnessed collapse ( OR =1.014,P =0.01 ).The risk factors associated with depression 3 years after the earthquake were:gender( OR =1.367,P =0.00),age( OR =1.035,P =0.04),and despair( OR =2.490,P =0.01 ).ConclusionBoth of the symptoms of PTSD and depression among the children from earthquake affected areas have decreased over the 2,3 years periods after the earthquake.The mental health status of the children from the earthquake affected areas are influenced by their gender,age,the length of living in transferred safe places,the severity of their family's injury,whether or not witnessed collapse and despair.These factors should be taken into considerations when the long-term post-traumatic psychological interventions are planned.
