The nature of psychiatric problems among disaster victims.
One-quarter of the residents (about 52,000) in the disaster area around the volcanic eruption area of Mt Unzen-Fugen have been forced to evacuate over a 3 year period. We conducted a psychological controlled study using the GHQ-30 for evacuees. As a result, the percentage of people with a high score over 8 points was 67% of evacuees, markedly higher than 10% of the control group. Some mental support activities, such as counseling by community nurses and crisis intervention/medication by psychiatrists and others, have been promoted. Subjects who received a psychiatric intervention had good outcome as a whole. The nature of psychiatric problems among disaster evacuees and the necessity of long-term support are discussed in this paper.
Araki
K
K
Shinjuen Ryoyosho, Nagasaki, Japan.
Nakane
Y
Y
Ohta
Y
Y
Kawasaki
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions