Shortly after the earthquake in Min county and Zhang county, the department of health of Gansu province immediately established a leadership team for earthquake relief and medical rescue, subordinated by psychological crisis intervention teams, which was responsible for training relevant personnel to carry out psychological intervention, and spreading related knowledge about earthquake. Then, emergency psychological intervention was provided for the key population (more than 90 times in total, involving 8 194 person-times). We also offered individualized psychological services (617 person-times), and diagnosed 31 patients with mental disorders through consultation. After the earthquake, the emotion of victims including depression, anxiety and acute stress disorder increased. The workload of psychological crisis intervention after earthquake was heavy and hard. However, Gansu province needs national support due to poor resources.
Shortly after the Wenchuan earthquake, we established headquarter of crisis intervention, which was responsible for reporting earthquake situation and training personnel to carry out psychological intervention and publicize earthquake-related knowledge. Then, urgent psychological intervention was provided to the target populations. We offered crisis intervention more than 100 times (40,000 person-times), provided individualized psychological services or therapies over 3,000 person-times and treated more than 200 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Meanwhile, we established relevant administration systems including registration, reporting, rapid screening and personnel work logs. Our preliminary survey conducted 1 month after the earthquake showed that the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder reached 43%. After the earthquake, the victims’ emotions of depression and anxiety were raised and the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder had a sharp increase. The victims’ requirements for psychological crisis intervention after earthquake were immense.
Objective To analyze stress-related disorders and the effect of crisis prevention in 54 females admitted to the Female Psychiatry Department of The Third Hospital of Mianyang City after the Wenchuan earthquake. Methods The patients were assessed with BPRS, HAMD, HAMA, and BPMS scales. According to their clinical manifestations, antipsychiatric, antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antimanic treatment were administered to them. All patients received cognitive-behavior and psychological therapy and were assessed after one month. Results Although all patients were earthquake sufferers, their clinical manifestations varied. Strengthened crisis prevention combined with appropriate drug treatment alleviated their symptoms. Conclusion In terms of alleviating symptoms, curtailing disease course, and facilitating mental rehabilitation, post-catastrophe crisis prevention is extremely important for female patients with stress-related disorders.
Objective To evaluate the effect of urgent psychological crisis intervention for 148 patients who were transferred to other provinces to receive treatment after the Wenchuan earthquake. Methods We randomly selected 148 patients from the disaster area who received treatment in The Third Hospital of Mianyang City and then transferred to other provinces. A self-designed questionnaire, SAS, and SDS scales were administered to all patients 7 days and 1 day before their transfer. After the initial assessment, all patients received urgent psychological interventions including catharsis, leading, explanation, and cognition reconstruction. Results After psychological intervention, both the full score and the standardized score of SAS and SDS declined significantly (Plt;0.01). Conclusion Earthquake sufferers who were transferred to other provinces to receive treatment had psychological problems. Crisis psychological intervention may have improved their psychological status effectively.