title: The relationship between psychiatric morbidity and quality of life: interview study of Norwegian tsunami survivors 2 and 6 years post-disaster.
abstract: The study investigated the impact of psychiatric disorders on Quality of Life (QOL) cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a group of Norwegian tourists severely exposed to the 2004 tsunami.
  
  
  
  Sixty-two adult Norwegian tsunami survivors were interviewed face to face 2 years post-tsunami (T1) and 58 were interviewed again by telephone 6 years post-tsunami (T2). The majority (81 %) reported direct exposure to the waves, and 14 participants (23 %) lost a close family member in the tsunami. Psychiatric morbidity was measured by structured clinical interviews and QOL was assessed with WHO's Quality of Life-Bref scale. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the independent effects of psychiatric disorders on QOL 2 and 6 years after the tsunami.
  
  
  
  Psychiatric disorders, especially depression, but also PTSD and other anxiety disorders, were associated with reduced QOL. Psychiatric disorders were more strongly related to QOL at 6 years after the tsunami than at 2 years.
  
  
  
  Psychiatric disorders, and especially depression, is related to reduced QOL in a disaster exposed population. Post-disaster psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD and especially depression, should be addressed properly in the aftermath of disasters.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway. ajmalhus@gmail.com.|Groruddalen Community Mental Health Center, Outpatient psychiatric clinic, Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, P.O box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway. ajmalhus@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ajmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O box 1094, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.|Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway (RBUP), P.O. box 4623, Nydalen, 0405, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Egil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nygaard
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway.|Institute of Clinical of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O box 1078, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siqveland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O box 1078, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.|Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Oslo, P.O box 181, Nydalen, 0409, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057192:Tsunamis
keywords: Depression; Natural disaster; Posttraumatic stress; Quality of life; Tsunami