Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms 19 years after the 1998 Dongting lake flood: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms 19 years after the 1998 Dongting Lake flood and explore associated factors. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select participants. A total of 932 individuals were included, of which 379 (40.7%) were male, 622 (66.7%) were aged ≥60 years, and 693 (74.4%) experienced ≥3 flood-related stressors. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that flood-related stressors, positive coping, and negative coping were independently associated with PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms; social support was independently associated with PTSD symptoms; emotional abuse and neuroticism were independently associated with depression symptoms; and per capita annual household income, stressful life events, physical abuse, and neuroticism were independently associated with anxiety symptoms. Therefore, the long-lasting psychological effects of floods should be considered by decision-makers, and those at high risk should be given special attention.