Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T16:10:40.249Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Frequency of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Relief Force Workers after the Tsunami in Asia: Do Rescuers Become Victims?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Erol Armagan ,
Zulfi Engindeniz ,
Ali Onder Devay ,
Bulent Erdur  and
Alis Ozcakir
Erol Armagan
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
Zulfi Engindeniz*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
Ali Onder Devay
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Bulent Erdur
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli, Turkey
Alis Ozcakir
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
*
Zulfi Engindeniz GATA Haydarpasa Egitim Hastanesi Acil Servis, Uskudar, Istanbul TURKEY E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the participants of the Turkish Red Crescent Disaster Relief Team after the Tsunami in Asia.

Methods:

The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-1 (CAPS-1) was administered to 33 of 36 team members one month after their Disaster Relief Team duty. Along with the CAPS-1 interview, demographic features, profession, previous professional experience, previous experience with traumatic events and disasters also were recorded. To be classified as present, a symptom must have a frequency score of “1” and an intensity score of “2” at the CAPS-1 interview. For a diagnosis of PTSD, at least one re-experiencing, three avoidance and numbing, and two increased arousal symptoms should be present.

Results:

The PTSD was diagnosed in eight of the 33 (24.2%) participants. No significant difference was detected in the distribution of PTSD diagnosis according to gender, age, profession, professional experience, previous disaster experience, and/or previous experience of traumatic events. However, the severity of PTSD symptoms as measured by the CAPS-1 score was significantly higher in women, nurses, and participants with <3 previous disaster duty experiences.

Conclusion:

Post-traumatic stress disorder is prevalent within disaster teams and healthcare workers, and measures should be taken to prevent PTSD within this group.

Keywords

disasterdisorderpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)relief teamstresstsunami
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , June 2006 , pp. 168 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.Google Scholar
2.Kessler, RC, Sonnega, A, Bromet, E et al: Post-traumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:1048–1060.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Kiliç, C., Ulusoy, M: Psychological effects of the November 1999 earthquake in Turkey: An epidemiological study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2003;108:232–238.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Ohtani, T, Iwanami, A, Kasai, K et al: Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in victims of Tokyo subway attack: A 5-year follow-up study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2004;58:624–629.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Norris, FH, Murphy, AD, Baker, CK et al: Post-disaster post-traumatic stress disorder over four waves of a panel study of Mexico's 1999 flood. J Trauma Stress 2004;17:283–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Catapano, F, Malafronte, R, Lepre, F et al: Psychological consequences of the 1998 landslide in Sarno, Italy: A community study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2001;104:438–442.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Caldera, T, Palma, L, Penayo, U et al: Psychological impact of the Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua in a 1-year perspective. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2001;36:108–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Ozen, S, Sir, A: Frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder in a group of search and rescue workers two months after 2003 Bingol (Turkey) earthquake. J Nerv Ment Dis 2004;92:573–575.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Fullerton, CS, Ursano, RJ, Wang, L: Acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression in disaster or rescue workers. Am J Psychiatry 2004;161:1370–1376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.North, CS, Tivis, L, McMillen, JC et al: Coping, functioning, and adjustment of rescue workers after the Oklahoma City bombing. J Trauma Stress 2002;15:171–175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Guo, YJ, Chen, CH, Lu, ML et al: Post-traumatic stress disorder among professional and non-professional rescuers involved in an earthquake in Taiwan. Psychiatry Res 2004;127:35–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.World Health Organization: Three months after the Indian Ocean Earthquake–Tsunami. Health consequences and WHO's response. Available at http://www.who.int/hac/crises/international/asia_tsunami/3months/report/en/index.html. Accessed 21 May 2005.Google Scholar
13.Blake, DO, Weathers, FW, Nagy, LM et al: The development of a clinicianadministered post-traumatic stress disorder scale. J Trauma Stress 1995;8:75–90.Google Scholar
14.Aker, AT, Özeren, M, Baflolu, M et al: Clinician-administered post-traumatic stress disorder scale (CAPS) reliability and validity study. Turk Psikiyatri Deg 1999;10:286–293.Google Scholar
15.Clinician-Administered post-traumatic stress disorder Scale (CAPS). Available at http://www.metric.research.med.va.gov/instrument/instrument_reviews.asp?detail=81. Accessed 09 December 2005.Google Scholar
16.Chong, MY, Wang, WC, Hsieh, WC et al: Psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on health care workers in a tertiary hospital. Br J Psychiatry 2004;185:127–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed