Prospective Study of Posttraumatic Stress in Adolescents 6 and 24 Months After the 2010 Yushu Earthquake in China

Adolescents who have suffered through earthquakes often experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This particular population has received increasing attention from researchers. The goals of the present study are to describe longitudinally the prevalence and the severity of PTSD in adolescent survivors of the Yushu earthquake in China and to explore the risk factors which lead to psychiatric disorders. The PTSD Check List (Civilian Version) was used to assess the PTSD symptoms in participants. The rates of PTSD were found to be 10.9% after 6 months and 5.8% after 24 months. Bereavement, being buried in the ruins, and personal injury were found to be significant risk factors for the development of PTSD. We suggest that intervention strategies should be addressed and more attention should be paid to adolescents.