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Psychological aftermath of the Lviv air show disaster: a prospective controlled study
Author(s) -
Bromet E. J.,
Havenaar J. M.,
Gluzman S. F.,
Tintle N. L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00566.x
Subject(s) - somatization , psychopathology , mental health , psychological intervention , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , medical emergency
Objective: To investigate the psychological aftermath of an air show disaster using prospectively obtained epidemiologic data. Method: Participants in a recently completed epidemiologic mental health survey in Lviv (disaster site) and controls from western Ukraine were interviewed shortly before and 6 months after a gruesome air show disaster. Results: The Lviv group reported more psychopathology and post‐traumatic stress symptom severity, but less anomie than controls. Somatization symptoms were similar in the two groups. Predisaster mental health and postdisaster threat were the strongest risk factors while demographic characteristics, emotional support, and repeated television viewing of the event were only weakly associated with postdisaster mental health. Conclusion: This is the first prospective study to find a significantly higher rate of disorder as well as post‐traumatic stress disorder symptomatology after a disaster. The risk factor findings suggest avenues for targeting postdisaster interventions.