title: Psychological aspects of disasters.
abstract: This article describes several topics necessary for understanding the psychological impact of disasters. Topics discussed include characteristics of disaster that impact psychological response, stages of response, factors influencing individual and collective trauma, and important aspects of psychological interventions. The author shares several conclusions about the nature of people, culture, and society based on his many years of work in disaster mental health.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, U.S. Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*