Citation

Arnberg FK, Hultman CM, Michel PO, Lundin T. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 2013; 4: 20650.

Affiliation

Department of Neuroscience, National Centre for Disaster Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, The Author(s), Publisher Co-action Publishing)

DOI

10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.20650

PMID

24106579

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Disasters yield increased rates of psychological disorders decades later. Other consequences, however, have received little attention in the past. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine diagnostic status and survivors' views on disaster-related consequences and social support.

METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was used with 22 survivors (of 49 eligible) 15 years after a ferry disaster. Data collection included audiotaped interviews with open-ended questions and diagnostic assessment of Axis-I disorders.

RESULTS: The post-disaster incidence was 54% (12/22) for Axis-I disorders, and 45% (10/22) for full or subsyndromal posttraumatic stress disorder. Thematic analysis revealed that survivor perception of the long-term consequences included positive (character change) and negative aspects (being ascribed a survivor identity). Participants' sought social support for several years, yet many felt hindered by experiential dissimilarity and distress of significant others.

CONCLUSIONS: Axis-I disorders were prevalent, but not salient to survivors' perceptions in the long-term. Post-disaster interventions need to attend to common barriers to support.

Language: en