ICD-11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD Among Hospital Medical Workers in China: Impacts of Wenchuan Earthquake Exposure, Workplaces, and Sociodemographic Factors

BackgroundPrevious studies address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following disasters as a public health issue. However, few studies investigate the long-term effect of disaster exposure on PTSD among hospital medical workers (HMWs).ObjectivesThis study aimed to study the prevalence of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD) among exposed and non-exposed HMWs 11 years after the Wenchuan earthquake in China, to identify the factors associated with PTSD and CPTSD scores, and to examine the factor structures of PTSD and CPTSD models.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered online questionnaire. Two thousand fifty-nine valid samples were collected from four hospitals in 2019. Descriptive statistical analysis, multivariate regression models, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed.ResultsThe prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD was 0.58 and 0.34%, respectively. The unexposed group reported higher PTSD and CPTSD scores than the exposed group. The type of workplace and marital status were significantly associated with the PTSD and CPTSD scores of HMWs. The CFA results indicate that both the correlated first-order model and the correlated two-layer model were a good fit to explain the structure of PTSD and CPTSD.ConclusionThese findings suggest that few HMWs who were exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake suffered from PTSD or CPTSD 11 years following the disaster. However, psychological support was still necessary for all HMWs, especially for unmarried HMWs who were Working in smaller hospitals. Further research is required to analyze mental health status using ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD to provide ongoing evidence to help HWMs cope effectively with the challenges of future disasters.

Rumination, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Posttraumatic Growth Among Wenchuan Earthquake Adult Survivors: A Developmental Perspective

This study examined the long-term effects of the Wenchuan earthquake among adult survivors. Specifically, it explored the role of perceived social support (PSS) in the relationship between rumination and posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Data were collected from March to July 2020 using a youth survivor sample (n = 476) of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Participants were divided into three groups depending on their age when the quake occurred: 6–11 years (n = 227), 12–15 years (n = 83), 16–19 years (n = 166). The results indicated that long-term PTG and PTSD symptom levels varied by age group. Both intrusive and deliberate ruminations had a significant effect on PTG as well as PTSD symptoms. PSS played a mediating role between rumination and PTG, and the mediation mechanisms varied by age group (developmental stages). Moderated analyses revealed that PSS from significant others significantly buffered the indirect effect of rumination on PTSD symptoms. Our findings demonstrated the universal nature of traumatic events encountered during childhood and adolescence development and underscore the importance of examining the developmental context of PTG in investigations on traumatic experiences and their consequences.

Characteristics of the disastrous debris flow of Chediguan gully in Yinxing town, Sichuan Province, on August 20, 2019

On August 20, 2019, at 2 a.m., a disastrous debris flow occurred in Chediguan gully in Yinxing town, China. The debris flow destroyed the drainage groove and the bridge at the exit of the gully. In addition, the debris flow temporarily blocked the Minjiang River during the flood peak, flooding the Taipingyi hydropower station 200 m upstream and leaving two plant workers missing. To further understand the activity of the debris flow after the Wenchuan earthquake, the characteristics of this debris flow event were studied. Eleven years after the Wenchuan earthquake, a disastrous debris flow still occurred in the Chediguan catchment, causing more severe losses than those of earlier debris flows. In this paper, the formation mechanism and dynamic characteristics of this debris flow event are analysed based on a drone survey, high-definition remote sensing interpretations and other means. The catastrophic debris flow event indicates that debris flows in the Wenchuan earthquake area are still active. A large amount of dredging work in the main gully could effectively reduce the debris flow risk in the gully. In addition, it is also important to repair or rebuild damaged mitigation measures and to establish a real-time monitoring and early warning system for the high-risk gully.