Comparative study of psychiatric morbidity among the displaced and non-displaced populations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands following the tsunami.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the psychiatric morbidity between the displaced and non-displaced populations of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the first three months following the 2004 earthquake and tsunami.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the 74 relief camps in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair had 12 camps, which provided shelter to 4,684 displaced survivors. There were 62 camps on Car-Nicobar Island, which provided shelter to approximately 8,100 survivors who continued to stay in their habitat (non-displaced population). The study sample included all of the survivors who sought mental health assistance inside the camp. A psychiatrist diagnosed the patients using the ICD-10 criteria.


RESULTS
Psychiatric morbidity was 5.2% in the displaced population and 2.8% in the non-displaced population. The overall psychiatric morbidity was 3.7%. The displaced survivors had significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than did the non-displaced population. The disorders included panic disorder, anxiety disorders not otherwise specified, and somatic complaints. The existence of an adjustment disorder was significantly higher in the non-displaced survivors. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were distributed equally in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric morbidity was found to be highest in the displaced population. However, the incidence of depression and PTSD were distributed equally in both groups. Involvement of community leaders and survivors in shared decision-making processes and culturally acceptable interventions improved the community participation. Cohesive community, family systems, social support, altruistic behavior of the community leaders, and religious faith and spirituality were factors that helped survivors cope during the early phase of the disaster.
Math
Suresh Bada
SB
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, (Deemed University), Bangalore, India. nimhans@gmail.com
John
John P
JP
Girimaji
Satish Chandra
SC
Benegal
Vivek
V
Sunny
Biju
B
Krishnakanth
K
K
Kumar
Uday
U
Hamza
Ameer
A
Tandon
Shweta
S
Jangam
Kavitha
K
Meena
K S
KS
Chandramukhi
Biju
B
Nagaraja
D
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications