Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors.
To date, no study has investigated the effects of avalanches on survivor's health beyond the first years. The aim of this study was to examine long-term health status 16 years after exposure to avalanches using a matched cohort design. Mental health, sleep quality and somatic symptoms among avalanche survivors (n=286) and non-exposed controls (n=357) were examined. Results showed that 16% of survivors currently experience avalanche-specific PTSD symptoms (PDS score>14). In addition, survivors presented with increased risk of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms (>85th percentile) (aRR=1.83; 98.3% CI [1.23-2.74]); sleep-related problems (PSQI score>5) (aRR=1.34; 95% CI [1.05-1.70]); PTSD-related sleep disturbances (PSQI-A score≥4) (aRR=1.86; 95% CI [1.30-2.67]); musculoskeletal and nervous system problems (aRR 1.43; 99% CI 1.06-1.93) and gastrointestinal problems (aRR 2.16; 99% CI 1.21-3.86) compared to the unexposed group. Results highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.
Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: eddat@hi.is.
Edda Bjork
EB
Thordardottir
Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Unnur Anna
UA
Valdimarsdottir
Faculty of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Ingunn
I
Hansdottir
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
Heidi
H
Resnick
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA.
Jillian C
JC
Shipherd
Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Mental Health Services, Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Iceland.
Berglind
B
Gudmundsdottir
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055875:Avalanches; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010200:Panic / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Avalanche; Disaster; Mental health; Physical health; Posttraumatic stress disorder