Predicting posttraumatic stress disorder following a natural disaster.

ABSTRACT: Earthquakes are a common and deadly natural disaster, with roughly one-quarter of survivors subsequently developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite progress identifying risk factors, limited research has examined how to combine variables into an optimized post-earthquake PTSD prediction tool that could be used to triage survivors to mental health services. The current study developed a post-earthquake PTSD risk score using machine learning methods designed to optimize prediction. The data were from a two-wave survey of Chileans exposed to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in February 2010. Respondents (n = 23,907) were interviewed roughly three months prior to and again three months after the earthquake. Probable post-earthquake PTSD was assessed using the Davidson T

SUBMITTER: Rosellini AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5726547 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature