Rate of psychiatric disorders and associations with quality of life among community members following the Kaohsiung gas explosion: an 18-month cross-sectional follow-up study.

While participants' psychiatric status improved after 18 months, their quality of life continued to be affected, especially the quality of life of those with probable PTSD combined with MDE. Postdisaster treatment and follow-up should be addressed to a greater degree, especially for victims with mental illness, physical injuries and financial problems.