title: Post-traumatic stress disorder and coping after a natural disaster.
abstract: This study examines the role of coping in the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a nonpatient population following exposure to a natural disaster. In contrast to other studies, the use of all coping strategies was found to be associated with the presence of PTSD rather than the absence of symptoms. These data suggest that coping (in this sense) represents a psychological process used to contain the distress caused by symptoms as well as to manage environmental adversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Spurrell
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McFarlane
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires