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. 2021 Mar 15:283:123-129.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.050. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Prevalence and risk factors for acute posttraumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 outbreak

Luna Sun  1 , Zhuoer Sun  1 , Lili Wu  1 , Zhenwen Zhu  2 , Fan Zhang  1 , Zhilei Shang  1 , Yanpu Jia  1 , Jingwen Gu  3 , Yaoguang Zhou  1 , Yan Wang  1 , Nianqi Liu  1 , Weizhi Liu  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factors for acute posttraumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 outbreak

Luna Sun et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Background: To examine the prevalence of and risk factors for acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shortly after the massive outbreak of COVID-19 in China.

Methods: An online anonymous survey was conducted between 30 January and 3 February, 2020. The survey included two self-administered questionnaires: one collected personal information (gender, age, education background), current location, recent epidemic area contact history, the classification of population, and subjective sleep quality; the other was the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).

Results: A total of 2091 Chinese participated in the current study. The prevalence of PTSD among the Chinese public one month after the COVID-19 outbreak was 4.6%. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that gender (p < 0.001), epidemic area contact history (p = 0.047), classification of population (p < 0.001), and subjective sleep quality (p < 0.001) could be regarded as predictors for PTSD.

Limitations: First, the majority of participants in this study were the general public, with confirmed or suspected patients being a small part. Second, the measurement of PTSD in this study might be vulnerable to selection bias because of an online self-report study, such as participants' recruitment. Third, the prevalence of PTSD in this study was estimated by an online questionnaire rather than a clinical interview.

Conclusions: The results suggested that some Chinese showed acute PTSD during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, comprehensive psychological intervention needs further implementation. Furthermore, females, people who had recent epidemic area contact history, those at high risk of infection or with poor sleep quality deserve special attention.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of the enrollment of study participants.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Group differences of PCL-5 scores in epidemic area contact history and classification of population Note: ⁎⁎, p-value < 0.01; ⁎⁎⁎, p-value < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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