The incidence rate of post traumatic stress disorder and mental status in the transferred wounded after earthquake

Objective To investigate the incidence of post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and mental status in the transferred wounded after Wenchuan earthquake. Methods At the 40th day after earthquake, 354 wounded were evaluated by the PTSD Symptoms Self Rating Scale, and Symptom Checklist 90 ( SCL-90 ). The diagnosis of PTSD was made according to DSM-Ⅳ criteria. Results After 40 days, 82( 23.2% )suffered PTSD in these wounded, including 55 females( 55/200,27.5% ) and 27 males( 27/154,17. 5% ), the rate in women was significantly higher than that in men. In those non-PTSD wounded, 199patients 199/249,79.9% ) had re-experienced symptoms, 164 patients( 164/249,65.9% ) had numbness/escaping symptoms, 208 patients( 208/249,83.5% ) had excessive arousing symptoms. The SCL-90 total score( 209.00 ±68.78 ), obsession( 2. 38 ± 0. 61 ), human relation sensitivity( 2. 18 ± 0. 87 ), depression ( 2. 50 ±0. 86 ), anxiety( 2.42 ± 0. 90 ) and hostility factor( 2.47 ± 0. 87 ) score of the PTSD were higher than those of the non-PTSD[( 153.08 ± 5.63 ),( 1.71 ± 0. 64 ),( 1. 50 ± 0. 60 ),( 1.71 ± 0. 69 ),( 1.70 ±0. 76 ),( 1.66 ±0. 73 );P ＜0. 05 -0. 01] . The SCL-90 total score and somatization, obsession, depression,anxiety, hostility, phobia, crankiness, psychosis and the other factor score of the wounded were higher than those of the national norm group( P ＜ 0. 05 - 0. 01 ). Conclusion Considerable number of the transferred wounded existed PTSD symptoms in experienced earthquake disaster, they need to be intervened for a long period. Key words: Natural disasters; Stress disorders, post-traumatic; Psychometrics; Symptom checklist ( SCL-90 )