Natural Disaster and Depression: A Prospective Investigation of Reactions to the 1993 Midwest Floods

Abstract

A statewide sample of 1735 Iowa residents, approximately half of whom were victims of the 1993 Midwest Floods, participated in interviews 1 year prior to, and 30 to 90 days after, the disaster. Employing a rigorous methodology including both control-group comparisons and predisaster assessments, we performed a systematic evaluation of the disaster's impact. Overall, the disaster led to true but small rises in depressive symptoms and diagnoses 60-90 days postflood. The disaster-psychopathology effect was not moderated by predisaster depressive symptoms or diagnostically defined depression; rather, predisaster symptoms and diagnoses uniquely contributed to increases in postdisaster distress. However, increases in symptoms as a function of flood impact were slightly greater among respondents with the lowest incomes and among residents living in small rural communities, as opposed to on farms or in cities. Implications for individual- and community-level disaster response are discussed.

The independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for postdisaster intrusions, avoidance reactions, and PTSD symptom severity: A 4-year prospective study

“…This study did not include other variables that predicted postdisaster mental health problems (see Brewin et al, 2000;Ozer et al, 2003), such as predisaster depression, prior trauma, and lack of social support (e.g. Ginexi, Weihs, Simmens, & Hoyt, 2000;Galea et al, 2005;Simeon et al, 2005).…”

Conséquences des inondations de juillet 1996 sur la santé psychologique et physique d'individus sinistrés âgés de 55 ans et plus vivant en milieu rural /

“…De façon concordante avec cette étude, plusieurs chercheurs ont rapporté le trouble de stress post-traumatique comme étant la condition la plus souvent rencontrée à la suite d'un sinistre (Côté, 1996;Maltais et al, 2001;Norris et al, 2002;Robins, Fischbach, Smith, Cottier, Solomon & Goldring, 1986;Shore et al, 1989;Voguei & Vernberg, 1993). Selon Canino et al (1990) (Ginexi et al, 2000). Phifer (1990) a, quant à lui, trouvé que l'exposition de personnes âgées à des inondations a été associée, 18 mois après les événements, à une augmentation de leurs symptômes dépressifs, de leur anxiété et de leurs symptômes somatiques.…”

Federal Disaster Mental Health Response and Compliance with Best Practices

“…Ginexi et al (2000) reported a negative correlation between income and depressive symptoms post-disaster. When completing research after the Midwestern floods of 1993, they found that a $5,000 decrease in household income was accompanied by increased flood impact scores.…”

“…These hurricane survivors lost all hope in the system in which they once believed. Ginexi, Weihs, Simmens, and Hoyt (2000) described how the loss of possessions, money, work, and personal resources was a good prediction of post-disaster mental health. Financial stability is an essential piece in instilling hope in victims of disasters who lost their homes and livelihoods (Hobfoll et al, 2007).…”

“…The unrealistic optimism initially experienced can give way to discouragement and disaster fatigue. For most survivors, psychopathology effects appear to decrease as time passes from the onset of the event (Ginexi et al, 2000). In our most recent history, two major disasters have had an impact on the whole country: the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina.…”