Degree of exposure and peritraumatic dissociation as determinants of PTSD symptoms in the aftermath of the Ghislenghien gas explosion.

Erik De Soir,Rolf Kleber,Herman Van Oyen,Emmanuelle Zech,Jacques Mylle,Onno Van Der Hart,Ann Versporten

doi:10.1186/s13690-015-0069-9

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper investigates risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the different survivor groups involved in a technological disaster in Ghislenghien (Belgium). A gas explosion instantly killed five firefighters, one police officer and 18 other people. Moreover, 132 people were wounded among which many suffered severe burn injuries.MethodsIn the framework of a large health survey of people potentially involved in the disaster, data were collected from 3,448 households, of which 7,148 persons aged 15 years and older, at 5 months (T1) and at 14 months (T2) after the explosion. Hierarchical regression was used to determine the significant predictors and to assess their proportion in variance accounted for.ResultsThe degree of exposure to the disaster was a predictor of the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Peritraumatic dissociation appeared to be the most important predictor of the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1. But at T2, posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1 had become the most important predictor. Dissatisfaction with social support was positively linked to development of posttraumatic stress symptoms at T1 and to the maintenance of these symptoms at T2. Survivors who received psychological help reported significant benefits.ConclusionsIn harmony with the findings from studies on technological disasters, at T1 6,0% of the respondents showed sufficient symptoms to meet all criteria for a full PTSD. At T2, 6,6% still suffered from posttraumatic stress symptoms. The symptoms of the different victim categories clearly indicated the influence of the degree of exposure on the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Problems inherent to retrospective scientific research after a disaster are discussed.

Highlights

This paper investigates risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the different survivor groups involved in a technological disaster in Ghislenghien (Belgium)
The results show that several risk factors are associated with the severity of the PTSD symptoms
This study supports the evidence that the degree of exposure to a disaster, peritraumatic dissociation and the perceived lack of social support determine the development of PTSD symptoms

Summary

Introduction

This paper investigates risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the different survivor groups involved in a technological disaster in Ghislenghien (Belgium). Two months after accidents with serious injuries 35% of survivors met PTSD criteria [11,12], five to eight weeks after the disaster depending on the proximity to the World Trade Center site 7 to 20% respondents met the PTSD criteria [13], and ten years after a disaster on an oil platform 25% continued to satisfy PTSD criteria [14] This indicates that there exists a relationship between the severity of exposure and the mental health condition, called dose-relationship, which could serve as a basis for victims classification. Severe exposure such as threat of life, the confrontation with injury and human losses or severe initial stress reactions may be considered as eventspecific risk factors [15,16]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion