Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Natural Disasters and Technological Accidents

  • Chapter
International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes

Part of the book series: The Plenum Series on Stress and Coping ((SSSO))

Abstract

It is almost impossible to listen to a news broadcast or to pick up a newspaper without learning of yet another catastrophic event. As modern society becomes increasingly technologically based, it can be anticipated that the frequency of disasters will grow, and the types of disasters that occur will change. Disaster events of ages past were primarily natural occurrences, such as floods, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes. Recent science has provided us with new potential disaster agents, such as nuclear power plants, jumbo jets, and toxic substances. For an excellent historic overview, the reader is directed to a comprehensive discussion in (1986).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams, P. R., & Adams, G. R. (1984). Mount St. Helens’s ashfall: Evidence for a disaster stress reaction. American Psychologist, 39 (3)}, 252–260.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, A. (1943). Neuropsychiatric complications in victims of Boston’s Cocoanut Grove disaster. Journal of the American Medical Association, 123, 1098–1101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahearn, F. L., Jr. (1981). Disaster mental health: A pre-and post-earthquake comparison of psychiatric admission rates. Urban and Social Change Review, 14 (2)}, 22–28.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1952). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1968). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental-disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., Fleming, R., & Davidson, L. M. (1983). Natural disaster and technological catastrophe. Environment and Behavior, 15, 333–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., Gatchel, R. J., & Schaeffer, M. A. (1983). Emotional, behavioral, and physiological effects of chronic stress at Three Mile Island. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 565–572.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beigel, A., & Berren, M. (1985). Human-induced disasters. Psychiatric Annals, 15 (3)}, 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolin, R. (1985). Disaster characteristics and psychosocial impacts. In B. J. Sowder (Ed.), Disasters and mental health: Selected contemporary perspectives (pp. 3–28). Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolin, R., & Klenow, D. (1982-1983). Response of the elderly to disaster: An age-stratified analysis. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 26 (4)}, 283–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boman, B. (1979). Behavioural observations on the Granville train disaster and the significance of stress for psychiatry. Social Science and Medicine, 13, 463–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromet, E. J., Parkinson, D. K., Schulberg, H. C., Dunn, L., & Gondek, P. C. (1980). Three Mile Island: Mental health findings. NIMH Contract No. 278-79-0048 (SM). Final report. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromet, E. J., Parkinson, D. K., Schulberg, H. C., Dunn, L. O., & Gondek, P. C. (1982). Mental health of residents near the Three Mile Island reactor: A comparative study of selected groups. Journal of Preventive Psychiatry, 2, 225–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromet, E. J., & Schulberg, H.C. (1988). Epidemiologic findings from disaster research. In R. E. Hales & A. J. Frances (Eds.), Psychiatric Update: American Psychiatric Association Annual Review (Vol. 7). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canino, G. (1989). Psychiatric reactions to disaster stress: A retrospective and prospective description. Paper presented at the World Psychiatric Association, Section of Epidemiology and Community Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohn, V. (1980, June 7). Waste sites may invade water supply, subcommittee told. The Washington Post, p. A2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conyer, R. C. T., Amor, J. S., Medina-Mora, E. M., Caraveo, J., & De la Fuente, J. R. (1987). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress syndrome in survivors of a natural disaster. Salud Público de Mexico, 29 (5)}, 406–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrenwend, B. P., Dohrenwend, B. S., Warheit, G. J., Bartlett, G. S., Goldsteen, R. L., Goldsteen, K., & Martin, J. L. (1981). Stress in the community: A report to the President’s Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 365, 159–174.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, K. T. (1976). Loss of community at Buffalo Creek. American Journal of Psychiatry, 133, 302–305.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fairley, M. (1984). Tropical cyclone Oscar: Psychological reactions of a Fijian population. Paper presented at the Disaster Research workshop, Mt. Macedon, Victoria, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1987). Vulnerability to life events exposure. Psychological Medicine, 17, 739–749.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, R., Baum, A., Gisriel, M. M., & Gatchel, R. J. (1982, September). Mediating influences of social support on stress at Three Mile Island, Journal of Human Stress, 14–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleser, G. C., Green, B. L., & Winger, C. N. (1981). Prolonged psychosocial effects of disaster: A study of Buffalo Creek. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. L., Grace, M. C., Lindy, J. D., Gleser, G. C., Leonard, A. C., & Kramer, T. L. (1989). Buffalo Creek survivors in the second decade: Comparison with unexposed and non-litigant groups. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. L., Grace, M. C., Lindy, J. D., Titchener, J. L., & Lindy, J. G. (1983). Levels of functional impairment following a civilian disaster: The Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 573–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green B. L., Lindy, J. D., & Grace, M. C. (1985). Posttraumatic stress disorder: Toward DSM-IV. Journal of Mental Diseases, 173, 406–411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. L., Lindy, J. D., Grace, M. C., Gleser, G. C., Leonard, A. C., Korol, M., & Winget, C. (1989). Buffalo Creek survivors in the second decade: Stability and change of stress symptoms over 14 years. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartsough, D. M. (1985). Measurement of the psychological effects of disaster. In J. Laube & S. Murphy (Eds.), Perspectives on disaster recovery (pp. 22–60). Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heizer, J. E. (1981). Methodological issues in the interpretation of the consequences of extreme situations. In B. S. Dohrenwend & B. P. Dohrenwend (Eds.), Stressful life events and their contexts: Monographs in Psychosocial Epidemiology 2 (pp. 108–129). New York: Neale Watson Academic Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heizer, J. E., Robins, L. N., & McEvoy, L. (1987). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the general population: Findings of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey. New England journal of Medicine, 317 (26)}, 1630–1634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S., & Bostock, T. (1977). Coping behavior after shipwreck. British journal of Psychiatry, 131, 15–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoiberg, A., & McCaughey, B. G. (1984). The traumatic aftereffects of collision at sea. American journal of Psychiatry, 141, 70–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holen, A. (1987). “Health and pain in survivors of an oil rig disaster.” Presentation to the Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD, October.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasl, S. V., Chisholm, R. E., & Eskenazi, B. (1981). The impact of the accident at Three Mile Island on the behavior and wellbeing of nuclear workers. American journal of Public Health, 71, 472–495.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leivesley, S. (1984). Psychological response to disaster. In J. Seaman, S. Leivesley, & C. Hogg (Eds.), Epidemiology of natural disasters: Contributions to epidemiology and biostatistics (Vol. 5). Farmington, CT: S. Karger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leopold, R. L., & Dillon, H. (1963). Psychoanatomy of a disaster: A long-term study of posttraumatic neuroses in survivors of a marine explosion. American Journal of Psychiatry, 119, 913–921.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lifton, R. J., & Olson, E. (1976). The human meaning of total disaster: The Buffalo Creek experience. Psychiatry, 39, 1–18.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, B. R., Pai, S., Santacruz, H., Lozano, J., & Luna, J. (1987). Screening for the psychological consequences of a major disaster in a developing country: Armero, Colombia. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 76, 561–567.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, B. R., Chavez, H., Samaniego, N., Pompei, M. S., Pai, S., Santacruz, H., & Lozano, J. (1989). Disaster severity and emotional disturbance: Implications for primary mental health care in developing countries. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 79, 74–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindy, J. D. (1985). The trauma membrane and other clinical concepts derived from psychotherapeutic work with survivors of natural disasters. Psychiatric Annals, 15 (3)}, 153–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Ibor, J. J., Jr., Canas, S. F., & Rodriguez-Gamazo, M. (1985). Psychological aspects of the toxic oil syndrome catastrophe. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 352–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madakasira, S., & O’Brien, K. F. (1987). Acute posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of a natural disaster. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175 (5)}, 286–290.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maida, C. A., Gordon, N. S., Steinberg, A., & Gordon, G. (1989). Psychosocial impact of disasters: Victims of the Baldwin Hills Fire. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2 (1)}, 37–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCammon, S., Durham, T. W., Allison, E. J., & Williamson, J. E. (1988). Emergency workers’ cognitive appraisal and coping with traumatic events. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1 (3)}, 353–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCaughey, B. G. (1985, Spring). U.S. Coast Guard collision at sea}. Journal of Human Stress, 42–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. C. (1985). The etiology of posttraumatic stress disorders following a natural disaster. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University of South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. C. (1986). Posttraumatic morbidity of a disaster: A study of cases presenting for psychiatric treatment. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174 (1)}, 4–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. C., & Frost, M. E. (1984). Posttraumatic stress disorder in firefighters: Ash Wednesday. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University of South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melick, M. E. (1985). The health of postdisaster populations: A review of literature and case study. In J. Laube & S. Murphy (Eds.), Perspectives on disaster recovery (pp. 179–209). Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. A., Turner, J. G., & Kimball, E. (1981). Big Thompson Flood victims: One year later. Family Relations, 30, 111–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, H. E., & Friedsam, H. J. (1959). Reported emotional stress following a disaster. Social Forces, 38, 135–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, J. P., & Foreman, C. (1987). “The Sun Valley Mall Disaster study.” Presentation to Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD, October.

    Google Scholar 

  • North, C. S., Smith, E. M., McCool, R. E., & Lightcap, P. E. (1989). Acute post-disaster coping and adjustment. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2 (3)}, 353–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G. (1977). Cyclone Tracy and Darwin evacuees: On the restoration of the species. British Journal of Psychiatry, 130, 548–555.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, V., & Patrick, W. R. (1981). Cyclone ′78 in Sri Lanka— The mental health trail. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 210–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlberg, M. (1979, April). Trauma at Tenerife: The psychic aftershocks of a jet disaster. Human Behavior, 49–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ploeger, A. (1977). A ten-year follow-up of miners trapped for two weeks under threatening circumstances. In C. D. Spielberger & I. G. Sarason (Eds.), Stress and anxiety (pp. 23–28). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popovic, M., & Petrovic, D. (1964, November 28). After the earthquake. Lancet, 2, 1169–1171.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quarantelli, E. L. (1985). What is disaster? The need for clarification in definition and conceptualization in research. In B. J. Sowder (Ed.), Disasters and mental health: Selected contemporary perspectives (pp. 41–73) (DHHS Publication No. ADM 85-1421). Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raphael, B. (1986). When disaster strikes. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N. (1983). The development and characteristics of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule. In M. M. Weissman, T. M. Myers, & C. C. Ross (Eds.), Epidemiologic community surveys. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., Fischbach, R. L., Smith, E. M., Cottier, L. B., & Solomon, S. D. (1986). The impact of disaster on previously assessed mental health. In J. H. Shore (Ed.), Disaster stress studies: New methods and findings (pp. 22–48). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., & Smith, E. (1983). The Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement. St. Louis: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, P. H., Wright, J. D., Weber-Burdin, E., & Pereira, J. (1983). Victimization by natural hazards in the United States, 1970-1980: Survey estimates. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 1 (3)}, 467–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seivewright, N. (1987). Relationship between life events and personality in psychiatric disorder. Stress Medicine, 3, 163–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shore, J. H., Tatum, E. L., & Vollmer, W. M. (1986). The Mount St. Helens stress response syndrome. In J. H. Shore (Ed.), Disaster stress studies: New methods and findings (pp. 7–97). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sierles, F. S., Chen, J. J., Messing, M. L., Besyner, J. K., & Taylor, M. A. (1986). Concurrent psychiatric illness in non-Hispanic outpatients diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Nervous Mental Disease, 174 (3)}, 171–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sloan, P. (1988). Posttraumatic stress in survivors of an airplane crash-landing: A clinical and exploratory research intervention. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1 (2)}, 211–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. M. (1989). Impact of disaster on children: Dioxin and flood (Final Report, MH40025). Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. M., North, C. S., McCool, R. E., & Shea, J. M. (1989). Acute post-disaster psychiatric disorders: Identification of those at risk. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147 (2)}, 202–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. M., North, C. S., & Price, P. C. (1988). Response to technological accidents. In M. Lystad (Ed.), Mental health response to mass emergencies: Theory and practice (pp. 52–95). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. M., Robins, L. N., Przybeck, T. R., Goldring, E., & Solomon, S. D. (1986). Psychosocial consequences of a disaster. In J. H. Shore (Ed.), Disaster stress studies: New methods and findings (pp. 50–76). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, S., & Canino, G. (1989). Appropriateness of DSM-III-R criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinglass, P., & Gerrity, E. (1989). Natural disasters and posttraumatic stress disorder: Short-term vs. long-term recovery in two disaster-affected communities. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 20, 1746–1765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A., & Healy, J. (1987). Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A. J. W., & Frazer, A. G. (1982). The stress of postdisaster body handling and identification work. Journal of Human Stress, 8, 4–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tennant, C., & Andrews, G. (1977). A scale to measure the cause of life events. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 11, 163–167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Titchener, J. L., & Kapp, F. T. (1976). Family and character change at Buffalo Creek. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 14–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisaeth, L. (1985). Posttraumatic stress disorder after an industrial disaster. In P. Pichot, P. Berner, R. Wolf, & K. Thau (Eds.), Psychiatry—The state of the art (Vol. 6, pp. 299–307). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisaeth, L. (1989). The Stressors and the posttraumatic stress syndrome after an industrial disaster. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 80(Suppl. 355), 25-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Wert, B. J. (1979). Stress due to nuclear accident: A survey of an employee population. Occupational Health Nursing, 27 (9)}, 16–24.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, C. B. (1983). Aftermath of a disaster: The collapse of the Hyatt Regency hotel skywalks. American Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 1134–1139.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA

    Elizabeth M. Smith & Carol S. North

Authors
  1. Elizabeth M. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carol S. North
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    John P. Wilson

  2. University of Queensland, Herston, Australia

    Beverley Raphael

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, E.M., North, C.S. (1993). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Natural Disasters and Technological Accidents. In: Wilson, J.P., Raphael, B. (eds) International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes. The Plenum Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2820-3_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2820-3_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6219-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2820-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation