Xiao-yi Cao
Sichuan University, China
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care
Background/Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric symptom, but limited previous studies have focused on the longitudinal course of the psychopathological symptom in bereaved survivors after disasters. This study examined the trajectory of PTSD prevalence, and to analyze the changes in risk factors for PTSD severity among bereaved survivors at 6 months and 18 months after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Methodology/Findings: This was a longitudinal study with a convenience sample of 113 bereaved survivors evaluated at 6 months and 18 months post-earthquake. The measures used in the study included the revised version of the Impact of Event Scale and a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, and earthquake-exposed and post-earthquake variables. The results indicated that the prevalence of PTSD among bereaved survivors decreased significantly from 38.9% at 6 months to 16.8% at 18 months. Loss of a child, directly exposed to the death of family members and property loss during the earthquake, as well as post-earthquake mental health services utilization were significant risk factors for PTSD severity at both assessments. Self-reported health status after the earthquake was a significant contributing factor to PTSD severity at 6 months post-earthquake. Bereaved survivors who lived in shelters or temporary houses reported significant higher PTSD score than those who lived in original houses at 6 months. Conclusions/Significance: These findings can contribute to post-disaster psychological rescue work. The bereaved survivors at high risk for PTSD should be particularly targeted. These outcomes support providing effective and sustainable mental health services for bereaved trauma survivors.
Email: cao_xiaoyi@126.com
Journal of Nursing & Care received 4230 citations as per Google Scholar report
Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi 