Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: June | Volume: 10 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 24-29
Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in People Affected By Flood in Kashmir
Sajid Mohammad Wani1, Ajaz Ahmad Suhaff1, Abdul Wahid Khan2, Bilal Ahmad Teli3
1Senior Resident Department of Psychiatry SKIMS Medical College Bemina.
2Prof. & Head of the Department, Department of Psychiatry, SKIMS Medical College Bemina
3Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, SKIMS Medical College Bemina
Corresponding Author: Ajaz Ahmad Suhaff
ABSTRACT
Background: Psychosocial impacts of flood event suggest that they can have significant effect on people’s wellbeing, relationships and mental health. The commonest psychiatric morbidity in population who are exposed to disaster includes grief, Post traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
Methodology:-This was a cross-sectional community based study. This study was conducted in different areas of Srinagar and south Kashmir which were most affected during flood of September 2014. A total of 1000 individuals were assessed who had been directly exposed to floods. In this study two standardized questionnaires were used; Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) for symptoms of Anxiety and Depression.
Results: Out of 1000 patients, Prevalence Symptoms of Anxiety were present in 462 (46.2%), Symptoms of Depressive symptoms were present in 326 (32.6%), symptoms of anxiety more in females 374(56.8%) and in age group 35-49yrs 270 (50.2%) and symptoms of depression more in age group of ≥ 50 years 80 (40.4%), and in females 240(36.5%).
Conclusion:-This study examined the impacts of flooding on mental health conditions among the vulnerable population in Kashmir. It is necessary to strengthen mental health care and psychological consultation facilities, in order to control and prevent mental illness. This will reduce the number of long term psychological cases.
Key words: Depression, Anxiety, Disaster, floods.