AIMS: To predict the longitudinal course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors three years following a catastrophic earthquake using multivariate data presented six months after the earthquake. METHODS: Trained assistants and psychiatrists used the Disaster-related Psychological Screening Test (DRPST) to interview earthquake survivors 16 years and older and to assess current and incidental psychopathology. A total of 1756 respondents were surveyed over the three-year follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 38 (9.1%) of the original 418 PTSD subjects and 40 of the original 1338 (3.0%) non-PTSD subjects were identified as having PTSD at the 3-year post-earthquake follow up. Younger age, significant financial loss, and memory/attention impairment were predictive factors of unresolved PTSD and delayed PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal course of PTSD three years after the earthquake could be predicted as early as six months after the earthquake on the basis of demographic data, PTSD-related factors, and putative factors for PTSD.
AIMS: To predict the longitudinal course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors three years following a catastrophic earthquake using multivariate data presented six months after the earthquake. METHODS: Trained assistants and psychiatrists used the Disaster-related Psychological Screening Test (DRPST) to interview earthquake survivors 16 years and older and to assess current and incidental psychopathology. A total of 1756 respondents were surveyed over the three-year follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 38 (9.1%) of the original 418 PTSD subjects and 40 of the original 1338 (3.0%) non-PTSD subjects were identified as having PTSD at the 3-year post-earthquake follow up. Younger age, significant financial loss, and memory/attention impairment were predictive factors of unresolved PTSD and delayed PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal course of PTSD three years after the earthquake could be predicted as early as six months after the earthquake on the basis of demographic data, PTSD-related factors, and putative factors for PTSD.
Authors: Luisa A Diehl; Lucas O Alvares; Cristie Noschang; Douglas Engelke; Ana C Andreazza; Carlos Alberto S Gonçalves; Jorge A Quillfeldt; Carla Dalmaz Journal: Neurochem Res Date: 2011-11-23 Impact factor: 3.996
Authors: Robert H Pietrzak; Peter H Van Ness; Terri R Fried; Sandro Galea; Fran H Norris Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2013-01-04 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: M Katherine Shear; Katie A McLaughlin; Angela Ghesquiere; Michael J Gruber; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2011-08 Impact factor: 6.505