Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in the population of Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Pauri Garhwal India in reference to Uttarakhand flood - June 2013

Abstract

Introduction: Natural disasters have the potential to affect psychological health. In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the population of Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Pauri Garhwal 1-year after the cloudburst and flash flood - June 2013. Materials and Methods: PTSD checklist, civilian version (PCL-C) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV TR) were used as a screening tool. This cross-sectional study after 1-year of the disaster conducted in three districts of Uttarakhand between July and October 2014. Frequencies, percentage, and Chi-square methods were used to calculate the results. Results: Each case adopted for the study was similar on its basic profile. Participants included in the study fell in the symptoms severity range of 5–2 scores of PCL-C. On a match with both criteria - DSM-IV TR criterion and cut-off point of PCL-C Scoring prevalence of PTSD symptoms was found 70.93% in Tehri, Uttarkashi, and Pauri ( n = 1651 with average age of 41 years). A higher prevalence has been noted in female population (Tehri 55.85%, Uttarkashi 55.66%, and Pauri 63.68%) in comparison to male population (Tehri 44.15%, Uttarkashi 44.34%, and Pauri 36.32%). Conclusion: (1) PTSD in disaster victims is as prevalent and persistent in Tehri, Uttarkashi, and Pauri districts of Uttrakhand state in India as elsewhere, (2) the risk of developing PTSD in subjects with lower initial exposure to disaster trauma should not be ignored, (3) remarkably fewer diagnoses of PTSD were made by using both DSM-IV -TR criteria and PCL-C, and (4) Female stress response for natural disaster trauma is comparatively higher than males.