Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among child survivors 1 year following the Wenchuan earthquake in China

Liu-Hua Ying,Xin-Chun Wu,Chuansheng Chen,Chong-De Lin

doi:10.1007/s00787-013-0400-3

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence rates of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression and to explore potential risk factors among child and adolescent survivors 1 year following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. 3052 participants were administered the Child PTSD Symptom Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, and the earthquake experience scale. Results indicated that the prevalence rates of probable PTSD and depression were 8.6 and 42.5%, respectively. Demographic variables (i.e., age and gender) and most aspects of earthquake experiences (i.e., direct exposure, close ones' exposure, fear for the safety of close ones, prior exposure to trauma, living location, and house damage, with the exception of type of housing) made unique contributions to PTSD and depressive symptoms. In addition, the moderating effect of gender on the relationships between age and PTSD and depressive symptoms was significant. In conclusion, depression was a more common psychological response than was PTSD among child survivors 1 year following the Wenchuan earthquake. Age and gender were risk factors for both PTSD and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, older female survivors exhibit more severe PTSD and depressive symptoms. Additionally, several aspects of earthquake experiences (i.e., direct exposure, close ones' exposure, fear for the safety of close ones, prior exposure to trauma, living location, and house damage) was also important for the development and maintenance of PTSD and depressive symptoms.

Highlights

On 12 May 2008, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Wenchuan, a county in Sichuan province of southwestern China
Under the supervision of trained individuals with a degree in psychology, participants took about an hour to complete three confidential questionnaires (ID-coded without their names appearing on the questionnaires) in their classroom: the Child posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Symptom Scale (CPSS) [36], the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) [37, 38], and the earthquake experience scale
We examined the prevalence rates of probable PTSD and depression, as well as their potential risk factors among a large sample (N = 3052) of child survivors 1 year following the Wenchuan earthquake in China

Summary

Introduction

On 12 May 2008, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Wenchuan, a county in Sichuan province of southwestern China. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often considered as the most frequently reported adverse psychological sequelae among child and adolescent earthquake survivors [2,3,4,5,6]. Giannopoulou et al [7] found that the prevalence rate of PTSD 6–7 months after the 1999 Athens earthquake was 35.7 % among youths aged 9–17 years. Fan et al [8] reported that the prevalence rate of PTSD was 15.8 % among 2, 250 adolescents (with mean age of 14.6 years, SD = 1.3) 6 months after the Wenchuan earthquake. Liu et al [4] showed that the prevalence rates of PTSD at 6 months and 12 months after the Wenchuan earthquake were 11.2 and 13.4 %, respectively. In addition to PTSD symptoms, child survivors of traumatic events

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion