Medium-term course of disaster victims. A naturalistic follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to describe the medium-term course (2-3 years) in a series of victims who had experienced severe trauma.


METHODS
We selected a consecutive series of 31 trauma victims and applied a structured clinical schedule (CAPS-2) to their psychiatric evaluations prepared for the court on two separate occasions approximately one year apart.


RESULTS
Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression were the commonest diagnoses, occurring in 39% and 16% of the victims respectively when they were first assessed. Most had improved between the assessments and this was especially the case for the re-experiencing of the trauma and over-arousal, but less so for avoidance; 20% of subjects showed no improvement, often being handicapped by secondary psychiatric illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Traumatised victims generally showed recovery in the 2-3 years after the trauma, but this was slow and was not universal.
Duggan
C
C
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham.
Gunn
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004190:Disasters; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom