title: High Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Relation to Social Factors in Affected Population One Year after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated post-traumatic stress symptoms in relation to the population affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, one year after the disaster. Additionally, we investigated social factors, such as forced displacement, which we hypothesize contributed to the high prevalence of post-traumatic stress. Finally, we report of written narratives that were collected from the impacted population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), questionnaires were sent to 2,011 households of those displaced from Fukushima prefecture living temporarily in Saitama prefecture. Of the 490 replies; 350 met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine several characteristics and variables of social factors as predictors of probable post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of IES-R was 36.15±21.55, with 59.4% having scores of 30 or higher, thus indicating a probable PTSD. No significant differences in percentages of high-risk subjects were found among sex, age, evacuation area, housing damages, tsunami affected, family split-up, and acquaintance support. By the result of multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant predictors of probable PTSD were chronic physical diseases (OR = 1.97), chronic mental diseases (OR = 6.25), worries about livelihood (OR = 2.27), lost jobs (OR = 1.71), lost social ties (OR = 2.27), and concerns about compensation (OR = 3.74).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are limitations in assuming a diagnosis of PTSD based on self-report IES-R, our findings indicate that there was a high-risk of PTSD strongly related to the nuclear disaster and its consequent evacuation and displacement. Therefore, recovery efforts must focus not only on medical and psychological treatment alone, but also on social and economic issues related to the displacement, as well.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan.|Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujiuchi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Social Welfare, The International University of Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.affiliation: Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Idente Foundation for Studies and Research, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.affiliation: Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Shinsai Shien Network Saitama, Saitama Sogo Law Firm, Saitama-shi, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan.|Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumano
authors.affiliation: Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eugene F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Augusterfer
authors.affiliation: Waseda Institute of Medical Anthropology on Disaster Reconstruction, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.|Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mollica
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057192:Tsunamis