Citation

Elklit A. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2007; 42(8): 664-668.

Affiliation

Dept. of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark, aske@psy.au.dk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-007-0206-z

PMID

17516012

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological consequences of an explosion disaster in a residential area in Kolding, Denmark, in November 2004. METHOD: A community sample of 516 evacuated adults and a control group of 119 residents situated near the disaster area, but not affected by the explosion were assessed 3 months after the disaster by standardized instruments. RESULTS: Of the evacuated sample, 13% met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD in contrast to 1% in the control group; 35% of the exposed sample and 7% of the control group were identified as 'probable cases' by the GHQ-30 (both p's < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence of the negative impact of a technological disaster on mental health and the need of preventive interventions.

Language: en