Psychological distress following a natural disaster: A one-year follow-up of 98 flood victims

Abstract

Ninety-eight individuals rendered homeless by flooding of the Mississippi were interviewed shortly after the disaster and one year later. Data included demographic information, severity of property damage, personal reactions to the disaster, and the 20-item Mental Status Index, a symptom checklist designed to quantify emotional stress. Just after the flood victims were asked to complete the Mental Status Index twice, using as a frame of reference their mental/emotional state before the disaster and their mental/emotional state since the disaster experience. The results indicated a significant increase in emotional distress immediately after the flood. One year later, the level of emotional distress had declined somewhat relative to that reported shortly after the disaster; however, it still remained significantly above pre-flood levels. Although victims continued to show effects of the disaster after 12 months, none developed a major mental illness for the first time. Findings of this and similar followup studies suggest that the most appropriate and cost/effective role for the mental health worker in times of natural disaster is that of a consultant in crisis management to primary caregivers such as family physicians, clergy, and full-time disaster personnel.