BACKGROUND: We examined patterns and correlates of speed of recovery of estimated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among people who developed PTSD in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. METHOD: A probability sample of prehurricane residents of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina was administered a telephone survey 7-19 months following the hurricane and again 24-27 months posthurricane. The baseline survey assessed PTSD using a validated screening scale and assessed a number of hypothesized predictors of PTSD recovery that included sociodemographics, prehurricane history of psychopathology, hurricane-related stressors, social support, and social competence. Exposure to posthurricane stressors and course of estimated PTSD were assessed in a follow-up interview. RESULTS: An estimated 17.1% of respondents had a history of estimated hurricane-related PTSD at baseline and 29.2% by the follow-up survey. Of the respondents who developed estimated hurricane-related PTSD, 39.0% recovered by the time of the follow-up survey with a mean duration of 16.5 months. Predictors of slow recovery included exposure to a life-threatening situation, hurricane-related housing adversity, and high income. Other sociodemographics, history of psychopathology, social support, social competence, and posthurricane stressors were unrelated to recovery from estimated PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of adults who developed estimated PTSD after Hurricane Katrina did not recover within 18-27 months. Delayed onset was common. Findings document the importance of initial trauma exposure severity in predicting course of illness and suggest that pre- and posttrauma factors typically associated with course of estimated PTSD did not influence recovery following Hurricane Katrina.
BACKGROUND: We examined patterns and correlates of speed of recovery of estimated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among people who developed PTSD in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. METHOD: A probability sample of prehurricane residents of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina was administered a telephone survey 7-19 months following the hurricane and again 24-27 months posthurricane. The baseline survey assessed PTSD using a validated screening scale and assessed a number of hypothesized predictors of PTSD recovery that included sociodemographics, prehurricane history of psychopathology, hurricane-related stressors, social support, and social competence. Exposure to posthurricane stressors and course of estimated PTSD were assessed in a follow-up interview. RESULTS: An estimated 17.1% of respondents had a history of estimated hurricane-related PTSD at baseline and 29.2% by the follow-up survey. Of the respondents who developed estimated hurricane-related PTSD, 39.0% recovered by the time of the follow-up survey with a mean duration of 16.5 months. Predictors of slow recovery included exposure to a life-threatening situation, hurricane-related housing adversity, and high income. Other sociodemographics, history of psychopathology, social support, social competence, and posthurricane stressors were unrelated to recovery from estimated PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of adults who developed estimated PTSD after Hurricane Katrina did not recover within 18-27 months. Delayed onset was common. Findings document the importance of initial trauma exposure severity in predicting course of illness and suggest that pre- and posttrauma factors typically associated with course of estimated PTSD did not influence recovery following Hurricane Katrina.
Authors: Karen B DeSalvo; Amanda D Hyre; Danielle C Ompad; Andy Menke; L Lee Tynes; Paul Muntner Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Katie A McLaughlin; John A Fairbank; Michael J Gruber; Russell T Jones; Joy D Osofsky; Betty Pfefferbaum; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2010-09-06 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Katie A Mclaughlin; John A Fairbank; Michael J Gruber; Russell T Jones; Matthew D Lakoma; Betty Pfefferbaum; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: M Cerdá; P M Bordelois; S Galea; F Norris; M Tracy; K C Koenen Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2012-08-10 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Gloria Giarratano; Emily W Harville; Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza; Jane Savage; Charlotte M Parent Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2015-04
Authors: Emily W Harville; Gloria Giarratano; Jane Savage; Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza; TrezMarie Zotkiewicz Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2015-11
Authors: Sarah Cercone Heavey; Gregory G Homish; Michael E Andrew; Erin McCanlies; Anna Mnatsakanova; John M Violanti; Cecil M Burchfiel Journal: Int J Emerg Ment Health Date: 2015-03
Authors: M Katherine Shear; Katie A McLaughlin; Angela Ghesquiere; Michael J Gruber; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2011-08 Impact factor: 6.505