Mental Health Problems following the 2005 Earthquake in Kashmir: Findings of Community-Run Clinics

INTRODUCTION: Events such as earthquakes are followed by significant psychiatric morbidity due to the enormous damage caused to life, health, property, and other resources in the affected area. In October 2005, a devastating earthquake occurred in Kashmir in India. A team of mental health professionals visited the earthquake stricken area to provide mental health services five weeks after of the event. METHODS: The team conducted clinics at > 30 sites in different villages in the area. This paper describes the mental health problems encountered in those communities. RESULTS: All patients seen in the clinics had their houses destroyed by the earthquake. Nearly one-fourth had suffered serious physical injuries and 12% had lost one of their family members. Common psychiatric diagnoses included adjustment disorders (39.6%), depressive episode (22.6%), and other stress disorders (21.8%). Only 10 (3.3%) patients were found to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though PTSD-like symptoms were reported by more than two-thirds of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment disorders, depression, other stress reactions, and PTSD-like symptoms were the common mental health problems five to six weeks following an earthquake.