Anxiety in Predicting Suicide-Related Symptom of Typhoon Disaster Victims: A One-Year Follow-Up Study in Southern Taiwan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to screen those at high risk of psychological distress in areas affected by typhoon Morakot, which hit Taiwan on August 7th, 2009. Screening was conducted a year later to assess the changes in psychiatric symptoms and investigate the factors which may be predictive of psychological distress and suicide ideation. One-hundred and fifty-two participants were collected at the first screening and 125 a year later. The five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale was used to measure the level of psychological distress. Our results showed the prevalence of psychological distress immediately post-disaster was 2.4% and increased to 4.0% the next year. The level of anxiety post-disaster could predict continuous psychological distress and the development of suicidal ideation a year later. Traumatic events prior to the typhoon were not associated with the level of psychological distress a year after the disaster. Difference was found in the level of hostility immediately post-disaster and a year later. Our follow-up study found anxiety was the only indicator which predicted psychological distress a year later, and hostility was a transient state which was lower a year after the disaster. Policy-makers and future programs should focus on high anxiety cases post-disaster to prevent mental symptom and suicide ideation development.

Sources of perceived social support associated with reduced psychological distress at 1 year after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Nationwide cross‐sectional survey in 2012

“…One strength of the present report is that this was a crucial 1‐year post‐disaster report on negatively associated factors of psychological distress . Second, the dataset recruited a large national sample that matched the basic demographics in the five dimensions to the Japan census.…”

“…The prevalence of psychological distress has been found to be high in the immediate post‐disaster period, and increases in the year following a major event. Distress was still high even 1–5 years after the majority of the earthquakes had ended .…”

Musculoskeletal Pain is Associated With New-Onset Psychological Distress in Survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake

“…4,5 Psychological distress is a common symptom after natural disasters. 6 Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes occur suddenly and unexpectedly, resulting in a loss of possessions, homes, and lives. 1 These stressful conditions lead to survivors' psychological distress immediately after the events.…”

“…Psychological distress is a common symptom after natural disasters 6 . Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes occur suddenly and unexpectedly, resulting in a loss of possessions, homes, and lives 1 .…”

“…Further, several factors lead to psychological distress after natural disasters 9 . Evacuation from hometowns, 6 loss of jobs, 7 low socioeconomic status, 10 and disruption of social networks 11 are associated with psychological distress, the prevalence of which remains high even years after natural disasters 12 . Musculoskeletal pain, generally considered to be related to psychological distress, 13 also increases after disasters 14 .…”