Cyclone '78 in Sri Lanka--the mental health trail

Area of Science:

• Disaster psychology
• Community mental health
• Epidemiology of psychological distress

Background:

• Cyclone disasters can cause significant psychological disturbance.
• Post-disaster environments, especially destroyed ones, pose unique challenges.
• Understanding the temporal patterns of psychological symptoms is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a longitudinal study of psychological disturbance in Sri Lanka following the 1978 cyclone.
• To investigate post-cyclonic stress in rural communities returning to destroyed environments.
• To identify factors influencing the early or delayed manifestation of psychological symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design.
• Focus on affected rural populations in Sri Lanka.
• Observation of psychological symptoms and their timing.

Main Results:

• Psychological symptoms appeared either early or were delayed.
• Lack of preparedness was linked to early symptom onset.
• Group cohesiveness and community feelings delayed symptom manifestation.
• Realization of losses and continued habitation in damaged homes reinforced symptoms.
• Over half the population experienced morbidity one year post-disaster.

Conclusions:

• Early intervention in community settings is recommended after disasters.
• Community factors play a significant role in moderating psychological responses.
• Disaster preparedness is a key factor in mitigating psychological distress.