Long-term psychological outcome of 1999 Taiwan earthquake survivors: a survey of a high-risk sample with property damage

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry 2007-05, Vol.48 (3), p.269-275
• Main Authors: Chen, Chin-Hung, Tan, Happy Kuy-Lok, Liao, Long-Ren, Chen, Hsiu-Hsi, Chan, Chang-Chuan, Cheng, Joseph-Jror-Serk, Chen, Chung-Ying, Wang, Tsu-Nai, Lu, Mong-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Factors; Aged; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Disasters; Dizziness - epidemiology; Dizziness - psychology; Earthquake damage; Earthquakes; Educational Status; Family Relations; Female; Headache - epidemiology; Headache - psychology; Health Surveys; Housing; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Multivariate Analysis; Post traumatic stress disorder; Property damage; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Residence Characteristics; Risk factors; Sex Factors; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; Stress; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Survivors - psychology; Taiwan - epidemiology; Tremor - epidemiology; Tremor - psychology
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2006.12.003

Abstract Objective Severe natural disasters can cause long-term psychological impact on the survivors. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychiatric morbidity among survivors of the severe earthquake that occurred in Chi-Chi, Taiwan, in September 21, 1999. Methods A total of 6412 earthquake survivors whose houses were destroyed by earthquake were recruited about 2 years after the disaster. They completed a self-report questionnaire assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms, psychiatric morbidity, and information of demographics, trauma exposure, and current living status. Results The estimated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder caseness and psychiatric morbidity were 20.9% and 39.8%, respectively. Psychiatric morbidity occurred mainly in survivors who were female, older, with low education level, and currently living in a prefabricated house. The risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder caseness were female sex, currently living in a prefabricated house, low education level, and experienced complete destruction of property. Conclusion These results showed that severe earthquake can cause long-term psychological impact in the survivors. The findings of risk factors suggest avenues for targeting postdisaster interventions.