Post-traumatic stress disorder in an emergency department population one year after Hurricane Katrina

Background

Hurricane Katrina resulted in a significant amount of injury, death, and destruction.

Study Objectives

To determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an emergency department (ED) population, 1 year after hurricane Katrina.

Methods

Survey data including the Primary Care PTSD (PC-PTSD) screening instrument, demographic data, and questions regarding health care needs and personal loss were collected and analyzed.

Results

Seven hundred forty-seven subjects completed the survey. The PC-PTSD screen was positive in 38%. In the single variate analysis, there was a correlation with a positive PC-PTSD screen and the following: staying in New Orleans during the storm (odds ratio [OR] 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–2.34), having material losses (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.03–2.60), experiencing the death of a loved one (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35–1.87), needing health care during the storm (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.48–2.73), and not having health care needs met during the storm (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.26–3.18) or after returning to New Orleans (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.40–3.73). In the multivariate analysis, the death of a loved one (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.26–2.78), being in New Orleans during the storm (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.33), and seeking health care during the storm (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.35) were associated with positive PC-PTSD screens.

Conclusions

There was a high prevalence of PTSD in this ED population surveyed 1 year after hurricane Katrina. By targeting high-risk patients, disaster relief teams may be able to reduce the impact of PTSD in similar populations.