Citation

Thordardottir EB, Valdimarsdottir UA, Hansdottir I, Resnick H, Shipherd JC, Gudmundsdottir B. J. Anxiety Disord. 2015; 32: 103-111.

Affiliation

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.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005

PMID

25935315

Abstract

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.

Language: en