SCREENING FOR TRAUMATIC STRESS AMONG PHYSICALLY INJURED AND NON-INJURED POPULATION, FOLLOWING OCTOBER 2005 EARTHQUAKE IN PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT

Aims: This study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the physically injured population for the severity of their injuries, psychological distress and quality of Life and compare the findings with non-injured controls.

Patients and Methods: The study was carried out in District Bagh, AJK and its surrounding areas, in the aftermath of October 2005 earthquake and was completed in a year. The study involved evaluation of physically injured population residing in and around Bagh and had sustained injuries during the earthquake. The severity of their injuries were mild to moderate and involved lower limbs and back predominantly (37% and 29% respectively), psychosocial distress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the quality of life (QOL) using various psychometric instruments including Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), Screening Instrument for Traumatic Stress in Earthquake Situations (SITSES) and Quality of Life-Bref (QOL-Bref) were compared in the cases and controls.

Results: The results showed significantly higher levels of psychosocial distress (Mean IES Score 44, p=0.005 and SITSES Section 1 Mean Score 40, p=0.09, SD±2), frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder (44.2%, p=0.004, SD±2) and poorer quality of life among the injured group (p=0.007, SD±2) as compared to uninjured controls.

Conclusions: The study suggests that following a natural disaster the injured sufferers may be in double jeopardy for running a higher of risk of developing psychosocial consequences and have a poorer score on QOL measures as compared to their uninjured survivors, thus suggesting the need for combining physical care with psychosocial interventions in this population.