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Risk factors for physical symptoms after a disaster: a longitudinal study
B van den Berg1, L Grievink, P G van der Velden
1Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. bellis.van.den.berg@rivm.nl
Psychological Medicine
|September 26, 2007
Summary
Physical symptoms like fatigue and pain are common in disaster survivors. Female gender, immigrant status, and pre-existing psychological issues increase risk, with mental health problems perpetuating symptoms post-disaster.
Area of Science:
- Disaster medicine
- Psychotraumatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Physical symptoms (fatigue, headache, pain) are common post-disaster but risk factors are understudied.
- This study investigates predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors for physical symptoms in man-made disaster survivors.
- Risk factor differences between survivors and controls were also examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for physical symptoms in disaster survivors.
- To understand the role of pre-existing, disaster-related, and ongoing factors in symptom development.
- To compare risk factors in survivors versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal questionnaire data collected from 1567 survivors at 3 weeks, 18 months, and 4 years post-disaster.
- Validated questionnaires assessed symptoms and risk factors; a comparison group (n=821) was included at later time points.
- Random coefficient analysis (RCA) was employed to analyze risk factors for physical symptoms.
Main Results:
- Female gender, immigrant status, and pre-disaster psychological problems were significant predisposing factors.
- While disaster factors were predictors, their association strength diminished with the inclusion of perpetuating factors.
- Intrusions, avoidance, depression, anxiety, and sleep issues were key perpetuating factors, mediating the link between traumatic stress and physical symptoms.
- Risk factors for symptoms were similar between survivors and controls.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers should monitor female survivors, immigrant survivors, and those with pre-existing psychological issues for physical symptoms.
- Psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, plays a crucial role in the persistence of physical symptoms after disasters.
- Early identification and management of psychological problems are vital for mitigating long-term physical health consequences in disaster-affected populations.
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