title: Degree of exposure and peritraumatic dissociation as determinants of PTSD symptoms in the aftermath of the Ghislenghien gas explosion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper investigates risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the different survivor groups involved in a technological disaster in Ghislenghien (Belgium). A gas explosion instantly killed five firefighters, one police officer and 18 other people. Moreover, 132 people were wounded among which many suffered severe burn injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the framework of a large health survey of people potentially involved in the disaster, data were collected from 3,448 households, of which 7,148 persons aged 15 years and older, at 5 months (T1) and at 14 months (T2) after the explosion. Hierarchical regression was used to determine the significant predictors and to assess their proportion in variance accounted for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of exposure to the disaster was a predictor of the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Peritraumatic dissociation appeared to be the most important predictor of the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1. But at T2, posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1 had become the most important predictor. Dissatisfaction with social support was positively linked to development of posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1 and to the maintenance of these symptoms at T2. Survivors who received psychological help reported significant benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In harmony with the findings from studies on technological disasters, at T1 6,0% of the respondents showed sufficient symptoms to meet all criteria for a full PTSD. At T2, 6,6% still suffered from posttraumatic stress symptoms. The symptoms of the different victim categories clearly indicated the influence of the degree of exposure on the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Problems inherent to retrospective scientific research after a disaster are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Scientific and Technological Research, Royal Higher Institute of Defence, Avenue de la Renaissance, 30 B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Soir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pychology and Educational Sciences, Research Center for Health and Psychological Development, Université catholique de Louvain, Place du Cardinal Mercier 10, B-1348 Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zech
authors.affiliation: Vaccine & Infectuous Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2630 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Versporten
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Public Health, Direction Public Health and Surveillance, J. Wytsmanstreet 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Oyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology/Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht/Diemen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleber
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Royal Military Academy, Avenue de la Renaissance 30, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mylle
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Onno
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: van der Hart
keywords: PTSD symptoms; Peritraumatic dissociation; Psychological help; Social support; Technological disaster