BACKGROUND: There are few prospective studies on risk factors for health problems after disasters in which actual pre-disaster health data are available. AIMS: To examine whether survivors' personal characteristics, and pre-disaster psychological problems, and disaster-related variables, are related to their post-disaster health. METHOD: Two studies were combined: a longitudinal survey using the electronic medical records of survivors' general practitioners (GPs), from 1 year before to 1 year after the disaster, and a survey in which questionnaires were filled in by survivors, 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Data from both surveys and the electronic medical records were available for 994 survivors. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic and disaster-related variables, pre-existing psychological problems were significantly associated with post-disaster self-reported health problems and post-disaster problems presented presented to the to the GP. This association was found for both psychological and physical post-disaster problems. CONCLUSIONS: In trying to prevent long-term health consequences after disaster, early attention to survivors with pre-existing psychological problems, and to those survivors who are forced to relocate or are exposed to many stressors during the disaster, appears appropriate.
BACKGROUND: There are few prospective studies on risk factors for health problems after disasters in which actual pre-disaster health data are available. AIMS: To examine whether survivors' personal characteristics, and pre-disaster psychological problems, and disaster-related variables, are related to their post-disaster health. METHOD: Two studies were combined: a longitudinal survey using the electronic medical records of survivors' general practitioners (GPs), from 1 year before to 1 year after the disaster, and a survey in which questionnaires were filled in by survivors, 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Data from both surveys and the electronic medical records were available for 994 survivors. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic and disaster-related variables, pre-existing psychological problems were significantly associated with post-disaster self-reported health problems and post-disaster problems presented presented to the to the GP. This association was found for both psychological and physical post-disaster problems. CONCLUSIONS: In trying to prevent long-term health consequences after disaster, early attention to survivors with pre-existing psychological problems, and to those survivors who are forced to relocate or are exposed to many stressors during the disaster, appears appropriate.
Authors: Jay P Ginsberg; Joseph R Holbrook; Debjani Chanda; Haikun Bao; Erik R Svendsen Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2011-11-10 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Howard Frumkin; Jeremy Hess; George Luber; Josephine Malilay; Michael McGeehin Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2008-01-30 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Joshua Breslau; Carol S North; Melissa L Finucane; Elizabeth Roth; Rebecca L Collins Journal: Psychiatry Date: 2021-07-30 Impact factor: 2.458