Post-Earthquake PTSD: Identifying Key Risk Factors Eleven Months After the February 2023 Turkey Earthquakes

Yavuz Yılmaz; Erdi Bahadır

doi:10.7197/cmj.1646980

EN TR

Post-Earthquake PTSD: Identifying Key Risk Factors Eleven Months After the February 2023 Turkey Earthquakes

Abstract

Objective Earthquakes are one of the most significant natural disasters, causing physical damage and psychological stress among victims. One of the major mental health issues that can arise after earthquakes is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PTSD and PTSD risk factors in the eleventh month following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkey. Methods Our study was conducted between Dec 19, 2023, and Jan 2, 2024. All participants were given the Personal Information Form and, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The Personal Information Form consists of three parts: survivors' characteristics, the characteristics of the trauma, and the post-trauma characteristics of the survivors. Results The study involved a total of 886 participants, aged between 18 and 65 years. Among the participants, 55.4% (n=491) were considered to have PTSD. The likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of PTSD is 2.95 times higher for male individuals, 2.07 times higher for injured individuals, 2.30 times higher for those who feel unable to escape their situation, and 2.03 times higher for individuals experiencing excessive fear or panic. Additionally, it is 1.65 times higher for individuals whose family member or close friend is injured, 1.82 times higher for individuals who lose their job after the earthquake, and 1.67 times higher for individuals experiencing economic problems after the earthquake. Conclusion Male gender, feeling trapped, experiencing extreme fear or panic, witnessing the injury of a family member or close friend, losing one's job after the earthquake, and facing economic problems after the earthquake are risk factors for PTSD.

Keywords

Deprem Sonrası Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu (TSSB): 6 Şubat 2023 Türkiye Depremlerinden On Bir Ay Sonra Temel Risk Faktörlerinin Belirlenmesi

Öz

Amaç Depremler, fiziksel hasara ve hayatta kalanlar arasında psikolojik strese neden olan en önemli doğal afetlerden biridir. Depremler sonrasında ortaya çıkabilecek en önemli ruh sağlığı sorunlarından biri Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu’dur (TSSB). Bu çalışmada, 6 Şubat 2023 Türkiye depremlerinden on bir ay sonra TSSB yaygınlığı ve TSSB risk faktörlerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem Çalışma, 19 Aralık 2023 ile 2 Ocak 2024 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Tüm katılımcılara Kişisel Bilgi Formu ve DSM-5 Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu Kontrol Listesi (PCL-5) uygulanmıştır. Kişisel Bilgi Formu üç bölümden oluşmaktadır: hayatta kalanların demografik özellikleri, travmanın özellikleri ve travma sonrası dönem özellikleri. Bulgular Çalışmaya 18-65 yaş aralığında toplam 886 katılımcı dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %55,4'ü (n=491) TSSB tanı kriterlerini karşılamaktadır. TSSB tanısı alma olasılığı erkek bireylerde 2,95 kat, yaralanan bireylerde 2,07 kat, kaçamayacağını hisseden bireylerde 2,30 kat ve aşırı korku veya panik yaşayan bireylerde 2,03 kat daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, aile üyesi veya yakın bir arkadaşı yaralanan bireylerde bu olasılık 1,65 kat, deprem sonrası işini kaybeden bireylerde 1,82 kat ve ekonomik sorunlar yaşayan bireylerde 1,67 kat daha fazladır. Sonuç Erkek cinsiyet, kaçışın imkansız olduğu algısı, aşırı korku veya panik yaşama, bir aile üyesi ya da yakın arkadaşın yaralanmasına tanıklık etme, deprem sonrası iş kaybı ve ekonomik sorunlarla karşı karşıya kalma, TSSB için önemli risk faktörleri olarak belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Services

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yavuz Yılmaz ^*
0000-0002-7572-5474
Türkiye

Erdi Bahadır
0000-0002-8404-1779
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

March 29, 2025

Publication Date

March 29, 2025

Submission Date

February 25, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 47 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7197/cmj.1646980

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA92MF97LC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

AMA

1.Yılmaz Y, Bahadır E. Post-Earthquake PTSD: Identifying Key Risk Factors Eleven Months After the February 2023 Turkey Earthquakes. CMJ. 2025;47(1):32-40. doi:10.7197/cmj.1646980

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