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Risk factors for PTSD after Typhoon Morakot among elderly people in Taiwanese aboriginal communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2011

Yi-Lung Chen ,
Chung-Sheng Lai ,
Wu-Tsung Chen ,
Wen-Yau Hsu ,
Yi-Cheng Wu ,
Peng-Wei Wang  and
Cheng-Sheng Chen
Yi-Lung Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Chung-Sheng Lai
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Wu-Tsung Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Sociology and Social Work, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Wen-Yau Hsu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yi-Cheng Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Peng-Wei Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Cheng-Sheng Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Cheng-Sheng Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan807. Phone: +886–7-3121101 ext. 6816. Email: sheng@kmu.edu.tw.
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Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a mid- and old-age population who experienced Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan.

Methods: One hundred and twenty people, who were mostly Taiwanese aboriginal people aged 55 years and above, were invited to participate in this study. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS-I). Information regarding demographic characteristics, relocation, personal injury, family death, property damage, and self-perceived health was collected.

Results: 29.2% of study participants presented significant PTSD symptomatology during the previous month. Development of PTSD symptomatology after the disaster was significantly associated with being female (OR 3.63, 95% CI = 1.11–11.88), experiencing relocation (OR 5.64, 95% CI = 1.60–19.88), and having poorer self-perceived health (OR 4.24, 95% CI = 1.53–11.78) after controlling for age, education, personal injury, family death, and property damage. Further, by adding depression into the analysis, we found the risk factors were being female (OR 4.66, 95% CI = 1.16–18.80), experiencing relocation (OR 27.91, 95% CI = 3.74–229.80), family death (OR 67.62, 95% CI = 2.85–1063.68), and poorer self-perceived health (OR 28.69, 95% CI = 4.52–182.06).

Conclusion: Nearly 30% of the elderly people studied who experienced Typhoon Morakot developed significant PTSD symptomatology. The risk factors for PTSD symptoms were female gender, poorer self-perceived health, relocation, family death, and depression. The elderly people who were relocated by governmental programs were more likely to develop PTSD symptomatology after experiencing trauma. Resettlement and rehabilitation programs after a disaster need to be more concerned with their psychological effects on victims.

Keywords

Taiwantraumarelocationolder personsdisasterdepressioncomorbiditypost-traumatic stress disorder
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 10 , December 2011 , pp. 1686 - 1691
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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