Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and its influence factors among victims in temporary settlements early after Wenchuan Earthquake
Abstract：Objective This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and influence of PTSD symptoms a-mong victims of Wenchuan Earthquake. Method In total, 223 subjects were assessed one week after the earth-quake using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Any subject meeting DSM-Ⅳ PTSD symptom criteria and having a PCL-C score≥50 was considered positive for PTSD screening. Results This study revealed a PTSD incidence of 14.3%. Symptoms of "upset when reminded" (65.0%), "intrusive memory" (63.2%), and "hyper-vigilance" (51.6%) were most common ones. Loss positive correlated to PCL scores (r=0.226, P<0.01). The bereavement (40±15, 33.3%) had higher both mean PCL score and PTSD incidence than the economic loss group (34±12, 11.1%) (P<0.01). Difference of mean PCL scores among age groups was statistically significant (F= 2.660, P=0.023), and that of the pre-elderly (42±14) was highest. Conclusion PTSD symptoms are common early after Wenchuan Earthquake and the bereavement and the pre-elderly are at high risk of PTSD.
Keywords：Post-traumatic stress disorderEarthquakeVictimsPsychosocial factors
Publication Date：2009-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2026-09-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 1015-1017 )