Citation

Maya-Mondragón J, Sanchez-Roman FR, Palma-Zarco A, Aguilar-Soto M, Borja-Aburto VH. Arch. Med. Res. 2020; 50(8): 502-508.

Affiliation

Dirección de Prestaciones Médicas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, México. Electronic address: victor.borja@imss.gob.mx.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.arcmed.2019.11.008

PMID

32023505

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Natural disasters cause mental disorders, the most frequent are Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which should be quickly identified for immediate psychological care. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of these disturbances in a population with social security, located in the states hit by the earthquake that took place on September 19^th, 2017 in Mexico.

METHODS: To identify persons with PTSD and depression, a random sample of the population was screened (1-2 months' post-earthquake) in primary health care clinics at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). A questionnaire for the detection of mental conditions (The Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health, SQD) was used to select people for group therapy and/or psychotherapeutic support, when identified with severe PTSD and high risk of depression.

RESULTS: Over 44,855 persons (67.9% females, 32.1% males), residents of Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Puebla, Morelos were surveyed. The prevalence of severe PTSD was 11.9% and depression 9.2%. The highest prevalence of PTSD was observed in Mexico City (12.8%) the state with more material damage. Women were at higher risk for PTSD (OR, 2.08; 95% CI 1.97-2.19, p = 0.000) and depression (OR, 1.86; 95% CI 1.72-2.01, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTSD and depression was higher in those states with severe damage caused by the earthquake; women were more susceptible to mental disorders.

Copyright © 2019 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Earthquake; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence