Community patterns of posttraumatic stress disorders

Article Abstract:

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been the topic of much research and attention in recent years, and may develop in an individual after natural disasters, wartime combat, terrorist acts, and loss of children to kidnappers. One such event was the eruption of the Mt. St. Helens volcano in May of 1980. This study evaluated the occurrence and causes of PTSD in individuals residing in one of two rural logging communities. One community (Castle Rock, Washington) experienced the disastrous effects of the eruption, and the other (Estacada, Oregon) was not exposed to the disaster, and these individuals serves as controls. PTSD from various causes (such as Vietnam combat or sexual assault) was studied in each community in addition to the effects of the Mt. St. Helens eruption on Castle Rock. Residents of Castle Rock were categorized has having had either high-or low-exposure to the disaster; high-exposure subjects lost at least $5,000 in property or experienced the death of a close relative. There were 138 high-exposure subjects and 410 low-exposure subjects from Castle Rock, and 477 control subjects from Estacada. Results showed that for the two communities combined, there were 37 people (16 men and 21 women) who experienced PTSD. Of these, 26 lived in Castle Rock and 12 of these had PTSD due to the Mt. St. Helens disaster. Eleven cases of PTSD were diagnosed in Estacada residents. Other causes of PTSD were combat, sexual assault, witnessing the violent death of a loved one, and a serious accident. Issues discussed include the symptoms of the PTSD sufferers, differences between natural disasters and human violence, and psychiatric disorders that coexisted with PTSD. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Demographic aspects, Environmental aspects, Washington, Natural disasters, Volcanoes, Mount Saint Helens, Washington (State)

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Psychological sequelae of war: a 3-year prospective study of Israeli combat stress reaction casualties

Article Abstract:

The long-term psychological effects of combat were assessed in Israeli soldiers involved in the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Victims of adverse reactions to combat stress and of post-traumatic stress disorder (delayed malaise afflicting mainly combat veterans) suffered more psychological distress during the three years after combat exposure. This distress declined over time. ..GE:AWIS

Israel, Military aspects, War neuroses

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