Sho Takahashi1,2, Yoshifumi Takagi3, Yasuhisa Fukuo4,5, Tetsuaki Arai6, Michiko Watari4, Hirokazu Tachikawa1,2. 1. Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan. 2. Department of Community and Disaster Assistance, Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry, Asahi-machi, Kasama, Ibaraki 309-1717, Japan. 3. Nihon Fukushi University, Okuda, Mihama-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi 470-3295, Japan. 4. DPAT secretariat, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8916, Japan. 5. Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, Serigaya, Konan Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 233-0006, Japan. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: How long acute mental health needs continue after the disaster are problems which must be addressed in the treatment of victims. The aim of this study is to determine victims' needs by examining activity data from Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan. METHODS: Data from four disasters were extracted from the disaster mental health information support system (DMHISS) database, and the transition of the number of consultations and the activity period were examined. RESULTS: Common to all four disasters, the number of consultations increased rapidly from 0-2 days, reaching a peak within about a week. The partial correlation coefficient between the number of days of activity and the maximum number of victims showed significance. The number of victims and days of activity can be used to obtain a regression curve. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to reveal that mental health needs are the greatest in the hyper-acute stage, and the need for consultation and the duration of needs depends on the number of victims.
BACKGROUND: How long acute mental health needs continue after the disaster are problems which must be addressed in the treatment of victims. The aim of this study is to determine victims' needs by examining activity data from Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan. METHODS: Data from four disasters were extracted from the disaster mental health information support system (DMHISS) database, and the transition of the number of consultations and the activity period were examined. RESULTS: Common to all four disasters, the number of consultations increased rapidly from 0-2 days, reaching a peak within about a week. The partial correlation coefficient between the number of days of activity and the maximum number of victims showed significance. The number of victims and days of activity can be used to obtain a regression curve. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to reveal that mental health needs are the greatest in the hyper-acute stage, and the need for consultation and the duration of needs depends on the number of victims.
Entities:
Keywords:
DMHISS; DPAT (Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team); Japan; Kumamoto earthquake; acute mental health needs; disaster; disaster psychiatry; duration of activity
Authors: Yoshifumi Takagi; Sho Takahashi; Yasuhisa Fukuo; Tetsuaki Arai; Hirokazu Tachikawa Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-25 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lawrence A Palinkas; Meaghan L O'Donnell; Winnie Lau; Marleen Wong Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-18 Impact factor: 3.390