TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors
JO  - Journal of anxiety disorders
A1  - Thordardottir, Edda Bjork
A1  - Valdimarsdottir, Unnur Anna
A1  - Hansdottir, Ingunn
A1  - Resnick, Heidi
A1  - Shipherd, Jillian C.
A1  - Gudmundsdottir, Berglind
SP  - 103
EP  - 111
VL  - 32
IS  - 
N2  - 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. <br><br>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. <br><br>RESULTS highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0887-6185
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005
ID  - ref1
ER  -