TY - JOUR
T1 - Ten-Year Follow-Up of Earthquake Survivors
T2 - Long-Term Study on the Course of PTSD Following a Natural Disaster
AU - Karamustafalıoğlu, Oguz K.
AU - Fostick, Leah
AU - Çevik, Mehmet
AU - Zukerman, Gil
AU - Tankaya, Onur
AU - Güveli, Mustafa
AU - Bakım, Banadir
AU - Karamustafalıoğlu, Nesrin
AU - Zohar, Joseph
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Objective: Few earthquake survivor studies extend follow-up beyond 2 years, leaving the long-term course of earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) unknown. This 10-year survey re-assessed the 1999 İzmit, Turkey, earthquake survivors. Methods: İzmit earthquake survivors (N = 198), previously assessed for PTSD/partial PTSD at 1–3 months and 18–20 months post-earthquake, were evaluated 10 years post-event from January 2009 through December 2010. A PTSD self-test (Turkish translation) used DSM-IV criteria to characterize full PTSD, “stringent partial PTSD,”“lenient partial PTSD,” or non-PTSD based on symptom type/amount. Results: Full PTSD prevalence decreased from 37% at 1–3 months post-earthquake to 15% at 18–20 months (P< .001), remaining relatively stable (12%) at 10 years (P= .38). Stringent and lenient partial PTSD decreased between 1–3 months and 18–20 months (from 9% to 3% and from 24% to 12%, respectively; P< .001), remaining stable at 10 years (5% and 9%, respectively; P= .43 and P= .89). PTSD was more prevalent at 1–3 months among those who had a close acquaintance harmed, had been evacuated for long periods (> 1 week), or had more children; this was not observed at 10 years (P= .007–.017). Avoidance symptoms 1–3 months post-earthquake were the best predictor for full PTSD at 10 years (P< .001). Delayed-onset PTSD was observed in only 2% of participants. Conclusions: Full and partial PTSD decreased over the first 2 years post-trauma, but remained stable at 10 years, suggesting PTSD symptoms at around 2 years remain stable at 10 years. Background characteristics did not predict PTSD long-term course, but avoidance level did. Delayed-onset PTSD was relatively rare.
AB - Objective: Few earthquake survivor studies extend follow-up beyond 2 years, leaving the long-term course of earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) unknown. This 10-year survey re-assessed the 1999 İzmit, Turkey, earthquake survivors. Methods: İzmit earthquake survivors (N = 198), previously assessed for PTSD/partial PTSD at 1–3 months and 18–20 months post-earthquake, were evaluated 10 years post-event from January 2009 through December 2010. A PTSD self-test (Turkish translation) used DSM-IV criteria to characterize full PTSD, “stringent partial PTSD,”“lenient partial PTSD,” or non-PTSD based on symptom type/amount. Results: Full PTSD prevalence decreased from 37% at 1–3 months post-earthquake to 15% at 18–20 months (P< .001), remaining relatively stable (12%) at 10 years (P= .38). Stringent and lenient partial PTSD decreased between 1–3 months and 18–20 months (from 9% to 3% and from 24% to 12%, respectively; P< .001), remaining stable at 10 years (5% and 9%, respectively; P= .43 and P= .89). PTSD was more prevalent at 1–3 months among those who had a close acquaintance harmed, had been evacuated for long periods (> 1 week), or had more children; this was not observed at 10 years (P= .007–.017). Avoidance symptoms 1–3 months post-earthquake were the best predictor for full PTSD at 10 years (P< .001). Delayed-onset PTSD was observed in only 2% of participants. Conclusions: Full and partial PTSD decreased over the first 2 years post-trauma, but remained stable at 10 years, suggesting PTSD symptoms at around 2 years remain stable at 10 years. Background characteristics did not predict PTSD long-term course, but avoidance level did. Delayed-onset PTSD was relatively rare.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148772455&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4088/JCP.22m14377
DO - 10.4088/JCP.22m14377
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C2 - 36811519
AN - SCOPUS:85148772455
SN - 0160-6689
VL - 84
JO - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
JF - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
IS - 2
M1 - 22m14377
ER -