Psychiatric Morbidity and Work and Social Adjustment Among Earthquake Survivors Extricated from under the Rubble

• Main Authors: Shamaila Aziz, Naeem Aslam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2012-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
• Subjects: Depression; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychiatric comorbidity; work and social adjustment
• Online Access: http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2012;volume=34;issue=4;spage=346;epage=349;aulast=Aziz

Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined psychiatric co-morbidity and work and social adjustment after a natural disaster among survivors who were extricated from under the rubble. Materials and Methods: Individuals (N=40) belonging to district Muzaffarabad, a severely earthquake affected area on 8 th October 2005, were interviewed. The examination included the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, and questions covering background characteristics and disaster exposure. Results: The most prevalent disorders were posttaumatic stress disorder (32.5%), major depressive disorder (17.5%), dysthymia (15.0%), agoraphobia (25.0%), and panic disorder (20.0%). Moreover, 77% of the respondents have been diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. Work and soical adjustment was found to have an inverse relationship with the psychiatric co-morbidity. Conclusion: Small sample size and lack of comparison group from non-earthquake struck areas may limit the generalizability of the psychatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, especially depressive and anxiety disorders, are of clinical importance when considering long-term mental health effect of disasters.