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.
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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s11126-012-9216-4
- Authors
- Mei-Chung Chang, Calo Psychiatric Center, Pingtung County, Taiwan
- Po-Fei Chen, Calo Psychiatric Center, Pingtung County, Taiwan
- For-Wey Lung, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, No.309, Songde Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 11080 Taiwan
- Journal Psychiatric Quarterly
- Online ISSN 1573-6709
- Print ISSN 0033-2720