Post-traumatic stress disease associated to depression and marriage in women after 2010 earthquake in Peralillo town

Abstract

Introduction: In 2010, two earthquake crashed Chile on February 27 and March 11, causing disasters in Peralillo town, VI region, Chile, increasing prevalence of psychiatric disease, mainly post-traumatic stress disease (PTSD) and depression. Studies in unexposed population have shown comorbidity in woman, others suggest possible protection against PTSD if marriage relationship exists. PTSD in association with depression has not been demonstrated after an earthquake of great magnitude. No research showing the prevalence of both diseases or the protective effect of marriage relationship after an earthquake of great magnitude has been made. Objective: Determine the prevalence of PTSD in woman over 15 years old in Peralillo and establish if there is an association with depression and presence of marriage relationship. Material and methods: Cross sectional descriptive cohort study, in which 101 woman of the town were randomly incorporated, answering the MINI interview and Golberg test for diagnosis of PTSD and depression respectively. Associations were analyzed by Chi-square test. A p-value < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: Prevalence for PTSD was 56.43%, for depression was 36.63%, and the association of both diseases was 29.7% statistically significant. PTSD association with marriage relationship as a protector factor was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Compared with unexposed population studies, we found a high prevalence of PTSD and its association with depression. Marriage relationship does not seem to protect in the development of PTSD. Authors consider relevant to Public Health, the earlier finding, given the increase in suicide incidence of both conditions, individually and collectively.