Investigation of the preference of posttraumatic stress disorder and combining psychiatric diseases after 2020 Elazig earthquake in earthquake victims

Natural disasters, especially earthquakes, have had a very important place in our lives throughout history. It has been inevitable to lay the groundwork for mental distress and traumatic experiences, as well as causing serious consequences such as loss of life and property, changes in life, and abandonment of the geography. t has been shown in many studies that there is an increase in the prevalence of psychiatric diseases in the society, especially after major earthquakes. The most common of these are: Post-traumatic stress disorder, Depressive disorder and Generalized Anxiety disorder. In the thesis we presented; After the 24.01.2020 Elazig Earthquake, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and other accompanying mental illnesses in 320 earthquake victims was investigated. Our scales were chosen accordingly, as the most common comorbid psychiatric disorders in the literature were generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The main aim of our study is to examine the relationship between the presence of PTSD diagnosis and demographic data and earthquake-related variables and to examine the relationship between the same variables and the levels of depression and anxiety. These variables are; demographic data such as gender, age, marital status, education level, socioeconomic level, and the earthquake and post-earthquake variables such as the loss of close relatives in the earthquake, being under a dent in the earthquake. The sample of the study consists of 320 earthquake victims. Participants consist of volunteers over 18 years old who lived in Elazig and experienced the earthquake. In addition to the socio-demographic data form, Back-depression, Back-Anxiety, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (PTSD-S/ CAPS) and Traumatic Experiences Scale were applied. Data were evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were frequency (n) and percent (%) for categorical variables, Mean ± Standard deviation (Mean ± Ss) or Median and Quarter 1 (Q1) - Quarter 3 (Q3) or Minimum value (Min) for continuous variables - Presented as the largest value (Max). In statistical analysis, p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. At the end of the study, the prevalence of PTSD was found to be 13.1% among earthquake victims. According to the Back-Depression scale of the participants, 24.37% moderate-severe depression scores, and according to the Back-Anxiety scale 25.32% moderate-severe anxiety scores were obtained. In individuals with a previous psychiatric illness and a family history of psychiatric illness, those who were left in the earthquake by their own collapse, those who were crushed by their relatives or neighbors, those who lost their relatives in the earthquake and those who had a traumatic experience related to the earthquake; PTSD development rates were found to be significantly higher. Again in the same individuals; Beck-Depression and Beck-Anxiety scale scores were found to be significantly higher. It was found that the relationship between PTSD and financial loss after the earthquake, damage to the home, benefiting from social support, witnessing the death or injury of someone in the earthquake, and PTSD were found to be statistically significant. Back-depression scale scores were found to be significantly higher in the same individuals. It was observed that the relationship between PTSD in those receiving psychological support after the earthquake was statistically significant. Back-anxiety scale scores were found to be significantly higher in the same individuals. Both depression and anxiety scale scores were found to be significantly higher in those with low economic status, those who did not work, and those who had a previous suicide attempt. It was observed that PTSD was found significantly more frequently in those whose psychiatric medication dose was increased after the earthquake. Those who are not married, those who use alcohol, those who stay in prefabricated settlements after the earthquake; Back-Depression Scale score was found to be significantly higher. In women, those with comorbidities, those who felt the earthquake severely or very severely, and the anxiety scale score was significantly higher. Beck-Depression Scale and Beck-Anxiety Scale scores were found to be significantly higher in those with PTSD. No significant correlation was found between the number of non-earthquake traumatic experiences and PTSD. Key words: Earthquake, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychiatric diseases, anxiety, depression