PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITIES AMONG POST FLOOD ELDERLY VICTIMS IN KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

Objective: the objective of this study was to assess the depression, post- traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and its associated factors among the elderly flood victims in tumpat, kelantan. methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in february 2015 in three villages in tumpat, kelantan. face to face interviews were conducted using socio-demographic performa, malay version geriatric depression scale 14 (m-gds 14), malay version trauma screening questionnaire (tsq) and flood-related questionnaires. results: one hundred elderly respondents completed the study. the prevalence of depression and traumatic stress was 15.0% and 17.8%, respectively. the risk factors for depression are being female (odds ratio [or] = 5, 95% confidence interval [ci]: 1.27, 19.99), family history of mental illness (or = 39.5, 95% ci: 1.41, 1063.08) and elderly with traumatic stress (or= 5.38, 95% ci: 1.53, 18.9). there was significant correlation between depression and traumatic stress (r= 0.36, p<0.001). conclusion: in the aftermath of a natural disaster, female and those who have ptsc are more likely to develop depression. it is suggested to expand this research to a bigger population as well as another flood affected states in malaysia.