A Prospective Study of Psychiatric Symptoms Among Adolescents After the Wenchuan Earthquake

Natural disaster exposure is associated with increased risk of mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, course, and risk factors of probable psychiatric disorders among 1,573 adolescents following the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social phobia (SP), conduct disorder (CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were assessed at 6 and 18 months postearthquake using a battery of standardized measures. Approximately 62.9% and 56.1% of the sample, respectively, had at least one probable psychiatric disorder at 6 and 18 months postearthquake. The most common disorders were PTSD, depression, PD, GAD, and ADHD. With regard to the course of disorders, PTSD, GAD, PD, SAD. and ADHD decreased; SP and CD remained stable; and depression increased. Generalized estimating equations models showed that female sex, older age, having experienced the death or injury of family members, being a direct witness of tragic scenes, low social support, and a high level of negative life events were risk factors for most disorders, odds ratios (ORs) = 1.3-20.8. However, logistic regressions indicated that earthquake exposure variables were specifically related to persistent PTSD, ORs = 2.0-2.5, and negative life events were associated with persistent depression, ORs = 2.4-5.3. Various psychiatric symptoms are pervasive, intense, and persistent among adolescent survivors. Systematic and periodic screening are needed to closely monitor the onset, course, and risk factors of mental health problems after disasters.