Post-traumatic stress disorder in a population of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake survivors with disabilities: the role of environmental barriers

Abstract

Purpose

Earthquake survivors whose physical injuries result in disability may be at increased risk for prolonged and severe post-traumatic stress disorder. We estimated the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, functional limitations, and environmental barriers in 289 survivors with disabilities induced by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake eight years after the disaster. We also investigated the relationship of post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity with function, considering a mediating role of environmental barriers.

Methods

Post-traumatic stress disorder was measured with post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version. Physical and mental functioning was assessed with Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 and perceived environmental barriers were evaluated with Nottwil Environmental Factors Inventory-Short Form. Path analysis was employed to examine the relationship of exposures, post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity, environmental barriers, and physical and mental function.

Results

Prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder was 18.68% (95% CI: 14.19–23.18%). Earthquake survivors with lower physical and mental functioning perceived more environmental barriers, and those who perceived more barriers demonstrated more severe post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, confirming a mediating role of environmental barriers.

Conclusions

Long-term community-based health services for earthquake survivors with disabilities should combine both mental and physical rehabilitation and focus on creating disability-inclusive environments.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Earthquake survivors whose physical injuries result in permanent disability may experience two different types of psychological trauma. The first originates from the initial psychological impact of the disaster and their injuries and the second arises from the added difficulty of coping with environmental barriers given the limitations imposed by their impairments.

• Even years after the disaster, prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder is likely high in earthquake survivors with acquired musculoskeletal or neurological impairments and needs to be considered in the rehabilitation process.

• Physical and mental functioning, as well as environmental barriers, are important intervention targets to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

• Long-term community-based health services for earthquake survivors with disabilities are needed that combine both mental health and physical rehabilitation components with advocating for disability-inclusive environments.

Keywords:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• earthquake
• disability
• environmental barriers
• functioning

Acknowledgments

The authors thank our students at Sichuan University and Nanjing Medical University for their help with data entry. The authors also acknowledge the support of our colleagues from Mianzhu People’s hospital for the organization of the data collection, in particular, Shaojun Zhang.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Data availability

Data are available from corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Hong Kong Caring for Children Foundation and Sichuan University (SCU 0083506105003).