Betty Pfefferbaum, Jennifer L Sweeton, Elana Newman, Vandana Varma, Mary A Noffsinger, Jon A Shaw, Allan K Chrisman, Pascal Nitiéma
{"title":"Child disaster mental health interventions, part II: Timing of implementation, delivery settings and providers, and therapeutic approaches.","authors":"Betty Pfefferbaum, Jennifer L Sweeton, Elana Newman, Vandana Varma, Mary A Noffsinger, Jon A Shaw, Allan K Chrisman, Pascal Nitiéma","doi":"10.4161/dish.27535","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27535","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review summarizes current knowledge on the timing of child disaster mental health intervention delivery, the settings for intervention delivery, the expertise of providers, and therapeutic approaches. Studies have been conducted on interventions delivered during all phases of disaster management from pre event through many months post event. Many interventions were administered in schools which offer access to large numbers of children. Providers included mental health professionals and school personnel. Studies described individual and group interventions, some with parent involvement. The next generation of interventions and studies should be based on an empirical analysis of a number of key areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"2 1","pages":"58-67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.27535","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33938063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Betty Pfefferbaum, Jennifer L Sweeton, Elana Newman, Vandana Varma, Pascal Nitiéma, Jon A Shaw, Allan K Chrisman, Mary A Noffsinger
{"title":"Child disaster mental health interventions, part I: Techniques, outcomes, and methodological considerations.","authors":"Betty Pfefferbaum, Jennifer L Sweeton, Elana Newman, Vandana Varma, Pascal Nitiéma, Jon A Shaw, Allan K Chrisman, Mary A Noffsinger","doi":"10.4161/dish.27534","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27534","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review of child disaster mental health intervention studies describes the techniques used in the interventions and the outcomes addressed, and it provides a preliminary evaluation of the field. The interventions reviewed here used a variety of strategies such as cognitive behavioral approaches, exposure and narrative techniques, relaxation, coping skill development, social support, psychoeducation, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and debriefing. A diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or posttraumatic stress reactions were the most commonly addressed outcomes although other reactions such as depression, anxiety, behavior problems, fear, and/or traumatic grief also were examined. Recommendations for future research are outlined.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"2 1","pages":"46-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.27534","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33254452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Disaster healthPub Date : 2013-12-13eCollection Date: 2013-04-01DOI: 10.4161/dish.27366
Fiona E Wilson, Eilis Hennessy, Barbara Dooley, Brendan D Kelly, Dermot A Ryan
{"title":"Trauma and PTSD rates in an irish psychiatric population: A comparison of native and immigrant samples.","authors":"Fiona E Wilson, Eilis Hennessy, Barbara Dooley, Brendan D Kelly, Dermot A Ryan","doi":"10.4161/dish.27366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27366","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although Western mental health services are increasingly finding themselves concerned with assisting traumatized individuals migrating from other countries, trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are under-detected and undiagnosed in psychiatric populations. This study examined and compared rates of traumatic experiences, frequency of traumatic events, trauma symptomatology levels, rates of torture, rates of PTSD and chart documentation of trauma and PTSD between (a) Irish and migrant service-users and (b) forced migrant and voluntary migrant service-users in Dublin, Ireland. Data were gathered from 178 psychiatric outpatients attending using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised Cambodian Version and the SCID-I/P. A substantial number of service-users had experienced at least one lifetime trauma (71.3%), and a high percentage of both the Irish (47.4%) and migrant groups (70.3%) of service-users had experienced two or more events. Overall, analyses comparing rates between Irish, forced migrant and voluntary migrant service-users found that forced migrants displayed more traumatic life events, posttraumatic symptoms, and higher levels of PTSD than their voluntary migrant and Irish counterparts, with over 50% experiencing torture prior to arrival in Ireland. The lifetime rate of PTSD in the overall sample was 15.7% but only 53.57% of cases were documented in patient charts. The results of this study are informative about the nature and extent of the problem of trauma and PTSD among migrant mental health service users as well as highlighting the under-detected levels of trauma among native-born service users.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"74-83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.27366","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34756847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Disaster healthPub Date : 2013-11-11eCollection Date: 2013-04-01DOI: 10.4161/dish.27113
James M Shultz, Glenn W Muschert, Alison Dingwall, Alyssa M Cohen
{"title":"The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting as tipping point: \"This Time Is Different\".","authors":"James M Shultz, Glenn W Muschert, Alison Dingwall, Alyssa M Cohen","doi":"10.4161/dish.27113","DOIUrl":"10.4161/dish.27113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Among rampage shooting massacres, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012 galvanized public attention. In this Commentary we examine the features of this episode of gun violence that has sparked strong reactions and energized discourse that may ultimately lead toward constructive solutions to diminish high rates of firearm deaths and injuries in the United States.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"65-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8e/90/kdsh-01-02-10927113.PMC5314926.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34756850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Disaster healthPub Date : 2013-11-08eCollection Date: 2013-04-01DOI: 10.4161/dish.27085
Jeffrey W Bethel, Sloane C Burke, Amber F Britt
{"title":"Disparity in disaster preparedness between racial/ethnic groups.","authors":"Jeffrey W Bethel, Sloane C Burke, Amber F Britt","doi":"10.4161/dish.27085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective The objective of this study was to examine the association between race/ethnicity (including language subgroups among Hispanics) and disaster preparedness among Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey respondents. Methods BRFSS data were obtained for eight states which implemented the optional general preparedness module from 2006 through 2010. Three dependent variables were analyzed including presence of four preparedness items (i.e., food, water, flashlight, and radio), emergency evacuation plan, and 3-d supply of medication. Primary independent variable included race/ethnicity accounting for language of survey. Data were analyzed in 2011 and accounted for BRFSS sampling design. Results Black (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.56, 0.79), English-speaking Hispanic (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.69) and Spanish-speaking Hispanic respondents (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.29) were less likely than non-Hispanic white respondents to live in a household in which all members requiring medication had a 3-d supply. Results varied regarding presence of four preparedness items and an emergency evacuation plan. Conclusions Racial/ethnic minority groups were less likely to have medication supplies but only Spanish-speaking Hispanics were less likely to have an emergency evacuation plan than white respondents. Public health officials can use these findings to support targeting racial/ethnic minorities to increase the presence of preparedness items important to mitigate the effects of disasters, with particular emphasis on medication supplies and Spanish-speaking Hispanics.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"110-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.27085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34757323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Disaster healthPub Date : 2013-08-02eCollection Date: 2014-01-01DOI: 10.4161/dish.26006
James M Shultz, David Forbes
{"title":"Psychological First Aid: Rapid proliferation and the search for evidence.","authors":"James M Shultz, David Forbes","doi":"10.4161/dish.26006","DOIUrl":"10.4161/dish.26006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Psychological first aid (PFA) has become the flagship early intervention for disaster survivors, with recent adaptations for disaster responders, in the post-9/11 era. PFA is broadly endorsed by expert consensus and integrated into guidelines for mental health and psychosocial support in disasters and extreme events. PFA frameworks are proliferating, with increasing numbers of models developed for delivery by a range of providers for use with an expanding array of target populations. Despite popularity and promotion there remains a dearth of evidence for effectiveness and recent independent reviews of PFA have highlighted this important gap. This commentary juxtaposes the current propagation of PFA against the compelling need to produce evidence for effectiveness and suggests a series of actions to prioritize and expedite real-time, real-event field evaluation of PFA.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"2 1","pages":"3-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8d/88/kdsh-02-01-10926006.PMC5314921.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34757327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Long-term mental health outcomes following the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster: A comparative study on direct and indirect exposure.","authors":"Nilamadhab Kar, Rameshraj Krishnaraaj, Kavitha Rameshraj","doi":"10.4161/dish.24705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.24705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is inadequate information on the long-term mental health outcomes among disaster victims in low and middle income countries. It is especially so for the vast majority of victims who are indirectly exposed to disasters. To address this gap in knowledge we examined the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity, particularly anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the 2004 Asian tsunami victims in India, 4.5 y after the disaster. It was also intended to compare the mental health outcomes of the victims with direct exposure to tsunami waters and those who were indirectly exposed to tsunami disaster (people living near the sea who escaped tsunami waters but witnessed the disaster and suffered various losses). In a cross-sectional epidemiological study, 666 randomly selected victims in South India were assessed for psychiatric morbidity through the Self-Reporting questionnaire (SRQ), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Scale for PTSD (SRS-PTSD) and suicidality screening. The disaster experience, quality of life and socio-demographic profile were also assessed. Psychiatric morbidity based on SRQ was 77.6% and estimated prevalence of anxiety symptoms (23.1%), depression (33.6%), PTSD (70.9%) and comorbidity (44.7%) suggested nature and extent of the psychiatric morbidity in the tsunami victims. The direct exposure group had a significantly greater proportion of psychiatric morbidity based on SRQ, anxiety symptoms and suicide attempts. Factors which predicted psychiatric morbidity were: lack of formal education, perception of disaster as highly stressful, damage to home and loss of livelihood and livestock. In conclusion, a large proportion of Asian tsunami victims were observed to have continuing mental health problems 4.5 y after the disaster, which highlighted the need for psychiatric services for the affected communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"2 1","pages":"35-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.24705","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34757330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James M Shultz, Alyssa M Cohen, Glenn W Muschert, Roberto Flores de Apodaca
{"title":"Fatal school shootings and the epidemiological context of firearm mortality in the United States.","authors":"James M Shultz, Alyssa M Cohen, Glenn W Muschert, Roberto Flores de Apodaca","doi":"10.4161/dish.26897","DOIUrl":"10.4161/dish.26897","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background The December 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, USA, vaulted concerns regarding gun violence to the forefront of public attention. This high-visibility incident occurred within the epidemiological context of U.S. firearm mortality that claims more than 88 lives daily. Methods National epidemiologic data on firearm deaths over two decades were analyzed along with data registries on school shootings in order to place the tragedy at Sandy Hook in perspective. School shootings were classified as random or targeted. Results The U.S. has the highest rates of firearm deaths, suicides, and homicides among the world's 34 \"advanced economies.\" Seventy percent of U.S. homicides and more than 50% of U.S. suicides are committed using a firearm. U.S. firearm homicide rates first declined, and then stabilized, during the past 23 years, 1990-2012. \"Shooting massacres\" in school settings, a new phenomenon within the past 50 years, are extremely rare events. Over 23 years, 1990-2012, 215 fatal school shooting incidents resulted in 363 deaths, equivalent to 0.12% of national firearm homicides during that time period. Most episodes were \"targeted\" shootings in which the perpetrator intentionally killed a specific individual in a school setting. Only 25 of these 215 events (11.6%) were \"random\" or \"rampage\" shootings, resulting in 135 deaths (0.04% of national firearm homicides). Among these, just three shooting rampages - Columbine High School, Virginia Tech University, and Sandy hook Elementary School - accounted for 72 (53.3%) of these 135 deaths. The frequency of random/rampage shooting incidents in schools has remained within the narrow range of 0 to 3 episodes per year. Conclusions Each year, more than 32,000 Americans die by firearms and more than 70,000 are wounded, representing a volume of preventable deaths and injuries that the U.S. government describes as a \"public health crisis.\" School massacres, such as Sandy Hook, occur periodically, galvanizing public reaction and bringing forth a collective call for intervention. Epidemiological analyses position these rare, but uniquely compelling, incidents within the broader national patterns of gun violence. The intention is to inform the selection of a balanced, comprehensive set of effective remedies to address the daily death toll from firearm suicides and \"targeted\" firearm homicides that account for more than 99% of firearm fatalities; as well as the rare, random, and sporadic rampage shootings in school or community settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"84-101"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.26897","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34756848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manuel J Loayza-Alarico, Andres G Lescano, Luis A Suarez-Ognio, Gladys M Ramirez-Prada, David L Blazes
{"title":"Epidemic activity after natural disasters without high mortality in developing settings.","authors":"Manuel J Loayza-Alarico, Andres G Lescano, Luis A Suarez-Ognio, Gladys M Ramirez-Prada, David L Blazes","doi":"10.4161/dish.27283","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Natural disasters with minimal human mortality rarely capture headlines but occur frequently and result in significant morbidity and economic loss. We compared the epidemic activity observed after a flood, an earthquake, and volcanic activity in Peru. Following post-disaster guidelines, healthcare facilities and evacuation centers surveyed 10-12 significant health conditions for ~45 days and compared disease frequency with Poisson regression. The disasters affected 20,709 individuals and 15% were placed in evacuation centers. Seven deaths and 6,056 health conditions were reported (mean: 0.29 per person). Health facilities reported fewer events than evacuation centers (0.06-0.24 vs. 0.65-2.02, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and disease notification increased 1.6 times after the disasters (95% CI: 1.5-1.6). Acute respiratory infections were the most frequent event (41-57%) and psychological distress was second/third (7.6% to 14.3%). Morbidity increased after disasters without substantial casualties, particularly at evacuation centers, with frequent respiratory infections and psychological distress. Post-disaster surveillance is valuable even after low-mortality events.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"102-109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.27283","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34757324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the relationship between infectious diseases and flooding in Europe: A systematic literature review and summary of possible public health interventions.","authors":"Lisa Brown, Virginia Murray","doi":"10.4161/dish.25216","DOIUrl":"10.4161/dish.25216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Many infectious diseases are sensitive to climatic changes; specifically, flooding. This systematic literature review aimed to strengthen the quality and completeness of evidence on infectious diseases following flooding, relevant to Europe. Methods A systematic literature review from 2004-2012 was performed. Focused searches of the following databases were conducted: Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Evidence Aid. Personal communications with key informants were also reviewed. Results Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence suggested that water-borne, rodent-borne, and vector-borne diseases have been associated with flooding in Europe, although at a lower incidence than developing countries. Conclusion Disease surveillance and early warning systems, coupled with effective prevention and response capabilities, can reduce current and future vulnerability to infectious diseases following flooding.</p>","PeriodicalId":90817,"journal":{"name":"Disaster health","volume":"1 2","pages":"117-127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4161/dish.25216","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34757325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}