Abstract
Purpose
While disasters are common in Africa, disaster studies in Africa are underrepresented in the published literature. This study
prospectively examined the longitudinal course of psychopathology, coping, and functioning among 128 directly exposed Kenyan
civilian survivors of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi.
prospectively examined the longitudinal course of psychopathology, coping, and functioning among 128 directly exposed Kenyan
civilian survivors of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi.
Results
Total postdisaster prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the 3-year follow-up was 49; 28 % of the sample still
had active PTSD. Delayed-onset PTSD was not observed. Posttraumatic symptoms decayed more slowly in individuals with than
those without PTSD. PTSD was more prevalent and chronic than major depression. Those with current PTSD or major depression
reported more functioning problems than those without. The length of hospitalization for injuries after the bombing predicted
major depression remission, but no predictors of PTSD remission were found.
had active PTSD. Delayed-onset PTSD was not observed. Posttraumatic symptoms decayed more slowly in individuals with than
those without PTSD. PTSD was more prevalent and chronic than major depression. Those with current PTSD or major depression
reported more functioning problems than those without. The length of hospitalization for injuries after the bombing predicted
major depression remission, but no predictors of PTSD remission were found.
Conclusions
Despite differences in coping and social variables, longitudinal psychopathology in the Nairobi terrorism survivors appeared
broadly similar to results in Western disaster populations. These findings contribute to the understanding of disaster mental
health in Africa and may have implications for generalizability of psychiatric effects of terrorist attacks around the globe.
broadly similar to results in Western disaster populations. These findings contribute to the understanding of disaster mental
health in Africa and may have implications for generalizability of psychiatric effects of terrorist attacks around the globe.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0535-4
- Authors
- Gus Zhang, Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery/Emergency Medicine, VA North Texas Health Care System, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6363 Forest Park Rd., Suite 651, Dallas, TX 75390-8828, USA
- Carol S. North, Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery/Emergency Medicine, VA North Texas Health Care System, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6363 Forest Park Rd., Suite 651, Dallas, TX 75390-8828, USA
- Pushpa Narayanan, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- You-Seung Kim, The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, Chicago, IL, USA
- Samuel Thielman, Office of Medical Services, US Department of State, Washington, DC, USA
- Betty Pfefferbaum, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954