@article{ref1,
title="Exacerbation of subthreshold PTSD symptoms in a Great East Japan Earthquake survivor in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic",
journal="Case reports in psychiatry",
year="2021",
author="Hori, Arinobu and Sawano, Toyoaki and Ozaki, Akihiko and Tsubokura, Masaharu",
volume="2021",
number="",
pages="e6699775-e6699775",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In 2011, the people of Fukushima, Japan, experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), a complex disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident. Its residents are experiencing a second global disaster, a COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: In this article, we aimed at discussing the effects of subthreshold PTSD in a previous disaster on an exacerbation of PTSD symptoms in another disaster. <br><br>METHOD: We present a case of subthreshold PTSD in the context of a nuclear accident and exacerbation of symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>RESULTS: Exacerbation of subthreshold PTSD symptoms was likely due to the reemergence of an urgent atmosphere similar to the previously experienced traumatic event. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: PTSD may occur not only in those who experience the actual life-threatening like ICU admission but in those who experience the atmospheric change of society. This case demonstrated the characteristics of subthreshold PTSD caused by two disasters that shared a similar sense of insecurity, the scale of impact on the society, invisibility of the threat, restricted movement, and authoritative conflicts. These commonalities led to a recurrence and exacerbation of initial symptoms. This finding should be shared with those involved in the care system for victims' mental health suffering from a large-scale disaster, and we need further research about the issue.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2090-682X",
doi="10.1155/2021/6699775",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6699775"
}