An early assessment of presence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder and its associated risk factors in a cohort of survivors of the 2019 Albania earthquake

To study the impact of the 2019 Albania on the socio-demographic profiles of a cohort of survivors and its association with probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD). A sample of 221 residents of temporary shelter camps and permanent homes in Albania who were affected by the earthquake on November 26, 2019, was assessed using The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to evaluate the probable PTSD (PPTDS), two weeks after the earthquake. Of the 221 participants (age: 14–63 years), 55 (24.89%) were males and 166 (74.11%) were females. About 50% were married and three-quarters had completed high school/university level education. The earthquake rendered 46.6% (n = 103) homeless, 95 participants (43.0%) became unemployed. The mean IES-R values were significantly higher in survivors who suffered personal injury, witnessed injury or death of another survivor or lost someone close to them compared to those who were not exposed these situations. All earthquake exposures and socio-demographic factors (except age and number of children) showed a significant negative correlation with the IES-R score. The prevalence of PPTSD from the impact of earthquakes was 66.1% (IES-R score ≥ 33). Survivors with low income had significantly higher scores and educational level (both self and spouse) showed a significant negative association with IES-R score. This initial study identified factors that could contribute to the development of PPTSD and suggests interventions for the survivors with low income, less education and who witnessed death of another person or someone close to them on priority basis to circumvent the development of PPTSD.