Risk factors of mental illness among adult survivors after the Wenchuan earthquake.

PURPOSE: This study was to analyze the mental health status of the adults from the areas struck by the Wenchuan earthquake, to understand the factors that may have impact on their mental health after they were exposed to the earthquake, to obtain information specifically relevant to further research and future preventive measures.

METHODS: We used multistage stratified random sampling methods in three areas that were severely damaged in the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province, China. For this study, 14,798 individuals were identified with simple random selection methods at the sampling sites, 14,207 were screened with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and 3,692 individuals were administered a Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV axis I disorders by 180 investigators.

RESULTS: The risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder included old age, female gender, low school education and witness someone die in the earthquake (P < 0.05, 95 % CI). The risk factors for anxiety disorder included old age, female gender, low school education, living alone and witness someone die in the earthquake (P < 0.05, 95 % CI). The risk factors for depression included old age, female gender, low school education and living alone (P < 0.05, 95 % CI).

CONCLUSIONS: Given inadequate knowledge and practices concerning the mental health of disaster victims in China, the information provided by this study is useful for directing, strengthening, and evaluating disaster-related mental health needs and interventions after the earthquake.