Risk factors for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in SARS survivors

Abstract

The study of PTSD at 30 months post-SARS showed that the predictive value of acute medical variables may fade out. Our findings do not support some prior hypotheses that the use of high dose corticosteroids is protective against the development of PTSD. On the contrary, the adversity both before and after the SARS outbreak may be more important in hindering recovery from PTSD. The risk factor analysis can not only improve the detection of hidden psychiatric complications but also provide insight for the possible model of care delivery for the SARS survivors. With the complex interaction of the biopsychosocial challenges of SARS, an integrated multidisciplinary clinic setting may be a superior approach in the long-term management of complicated PTSD cases.

Post-traumatic stress syndrome in a large sample of older adults: determinants and quality of life

“…An increase in chronic illnesses was associated with the presence of PTSS. This has also been observed by other researchers (Harris, Young, Rae, Jalaludin, & Solomon, 2008;Mak, Chu, Pan, Yiu, Ho, & Chan, 2010). The association observed might also be explained by the fact that the presence of a life-threatening disease was included in the potential traumatic event list and these diseases were associated with other physical ailments.…”

Posttraumatic stress disorder following asthma attack: the role of agency beliefs in mediating psychiatric morbidity

“…Previous studies have suggested that those with PTSD more often have external locus of control, and have lower levels of self-efficacy (Shelley and Pakenham, 2004;Wu et al, 2004;Mak et al, 2010). Self-efficacy in the current sample was significantly lower for the PTSD group than for those without PTSD, which confirmed the expected result.…”

“…Specifically in regard to PTSD, self-efficacy and LoC are significantly associated with individual differences in pathology and posttraumatic recovery Heinrichs et al, 2005;Chung et al, 2006Chung et al, , 2007Chung et al, , 2012Jones et al, 2006;Mak et al, 2010).…”

Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: Gender differences matter

“…Another study showed 17.3% significant mental symptoms among health care workers during SARS epidemic (Lu, Shu, Chang, & Lung, 2006). As to research on PTSS, Mak et al (2010)and Lam et al (2009) both reported more than 40% of SARS survivors had experienced PTSS at one time during the outbreak. Meanwhile, those respondents who had been isolated, worked in high-risk workplaces such as SARS wards, or had friends or close relatives who contacted SARS were two to three times more likely to develop high levels of PTSS than those who were not exposed to the virus (Wu et al, 2009).…”

“…As Wuhan city is a major transportation hub with a population of more than 11 million people, the potential impact of global COVID-19 outbreaks is high. Such outbreaks of infectious disease has significant potential for psychological contagion, and typically result in widespread fear, anxiety and a variety of psychological problems, and then incur stigmatization of patients with the disease and their relations, of care workers, even of all residents in hardest-hit areas (Mak et al, 2010;Perrin, McCabe, Everly, & Links, 2009).…”