TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Not forgetting severe mental disorders in humanitarian emergencies: a descriptive study from the Philippines
JO  - International health
A1  - Weintraub, Ana Cecilia Andrade de Moraes
A1  - Garcia, Mariana Gaspar
A1  - Birri, Elisa
A1  - Severy, Nathalie
A1  - Ferir, Marie-Christine
A1  - Ali, Engy
A1  - Tayler-Smith, Katie
A1  - Nadera, Dinah Palmera
A1  - Van Ommeren, Mark
SP  - 336
EP  - 344
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Severe mental disorders are often neglected following a disaster. Based on Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) experience of providing mental health (MH) care after the 2013 typhoon in the Philippines, we describe the monthly volume of MH activities and beneficiaries; characteristics of people seeking MH care; profile and outcomes of people with severe mental disorders; prescription of psychotropic medication; and factors facilitating the identification and management of individuals with severe mental disorders. <br><br>METHODS: A retrospective review of programme data was carried out. <br><br>RESULTS: In total, 172 persons sought MH care. Numbers peaked three months into MSF's intervention and decreased thereafter. Of 134 (78%) people with complete data, 37 (28%) had a severe mental disorder, often characterised by psychotic symptoms (n=24, 64%) and usually unrelated to the typhoon (n=32, 86%). Four people (11%) were discharged after successful treatment, two (5%) moved out of the area, 20 (54%) were referred for follow-up on cessation of MSF activities and 10 (27%) were lost-to-follow-up. Psychotropic treatment was prescribed for 33 (75%) people with mental disorders and for 11 with non-severe mental disorders. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates how actors can play an important role in providing MH care for people with severe mental disorders in the aftermath of a disaster.<br><br>© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1876-3413
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihw032
ID  - ref1
ER  -