Social organizational stressors and post-disaster mental health disturbances: a longitudinal study.

Social organizational stressors are well-known predictors of mental health disturbances (MHD). However, to what extent these stressors predict post-disaster MHD among employed victims hardly received scientific attention and is clearly understudied. For this purpose we examined to what extent these stressors independently predict MHD 1.

Cultural psychiatry in Tel Aviv: how relevant!

The First Mediterranean Conference on Cultural Psychiatry took place in Tel Aviv, Israel. This conference was a great success. With about 200 participants, mostly from Israel but with also 46 participants coming from 13 other countries: Mediterranean countries, Europe, North America and Australia.

Police officers: a high-risk group for the development of mental health disturbances? A cohort study.

Objectives: Policing is generally considered a high-risk profession for the development of mental health problems, but this assumption lacks empirical evidence. Research question of the present study is to what extent mental health disturbances, such as (very) severe symptoms of anxiety, depression and hostility are more prevalent among police officers than among other occupational groups.

Design: Multicomparative cross-sectional study using the data of several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in the Netherlands.

Mental health problems among search and rescue workers deployed in the Haïti earthquake 2010: a pre-post comparison.

Search and rescue workers play an important role in rescuing trapped disaster victims. However, it is unclear whether they are at risk for post-disaster mental health problems. For this purpose we prospectively examined pre- and post-deployment health among Dutch search and rescue workers (USAR NL) deployed in the devastating Haiti earthquake disaster (2010).

Acculturation and post-disaster mental health problems among affected and non-affected immigrants: a comparative study.

Background: It is unknown to what extent acculturation among disaster-affected immigrants is associated with mental health problems (MHP) compared to non-affected immigrants.

Methods: We examined the associations between acculturation and post-disaster MHP among affected and non-affected immigrants in The Netherlands.

Results: Among the affected group, keeping norms and values of original culture and limited skills to cope with the demands of the new society were independently associated with PTSD-symptomatology, anxiety, depression, hostility, and somatic problems at 18 months post-event.

Lack of perceived social support among immigrants after a disaster: comparative study.

Background: Disaster research suggests that immigrant groups who are affected by a disaster receive less emotional support than their native counterparts. However, it is unclear to what extent these differences can be attributed to post-disaster mental health problems or whether they were present before the event.

Aims: To examine the association between lack of social support, immigration status and victim status, as well as differences in support between immigrants and Dutch natives with disaster-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for PTSD symptomatology after type I trauma: a systematic review of prospective studies.

We conducted a systematic review of prospective studies examining the independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation (PD) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology following single traumatic events. Insight into the independent predictive value may help to identify victims at risk for PTSD symptomatology. For this purpose a literature search was carried out using the online databases PsycINFO, Medline/Pubmed, and PILOTS.

Correlates of mental health services utilization 18 months and almost 4 years postdisaster among adults with mental health problems.

The authors assess the correlates of mental health services utilization (MHS) after a disaster among adults with mental health problems. Data of a three-wave longitudinal study among adult survivors of a fireworks disaster (T1: 2-3 weeks, T2: 18 months, T3: almost 4 years postdisaster) were linked with their electronic medical records (N = 649). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that triple comorbidity of PTSD and high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were positively associated with self-reported MHS utilization at T2 (n = 270) and T3 (n = 216).

Smoking predicts posttraumatic stress symptoms among rescue workers: a prospective study of ambulance personnel involved in the Enschede Fireworks Disaster.

Background: Examining whether smoking is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among rescue workers affected by a disaster.

Methods: Ambulance personnel (N=66) participated in surveys 2-3 weeks (T1) and 18 months after a fireworks disaster (T2). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted with cigarette consumption at T1 as a predictor of PTSD symptoms at T2.

Smoking as a risk factor for mental health disturbances after a disaster: a prospective comparative study.

Objective: To assess whether smoking is a(n) (independent) risk factor for mental health problems among adult disaster victims and among a nonexposed comparison group.

Method: Surveys were conducted 18 months (T1) and 4 years (T2) after a fireworks disaster in Enschede, the Netherlands (May 13, 2000), among adult victims (N = 662) and a comparison group (N = 526) of residents of a city located in another part of the Netherlands. The surveys included measures of smoking (Dutch Local and National Public Health Monitor); severe anxiety, depression, and hostility symptoms (the Symptom Checklist-90, revised); and disaster-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; DSM-IV criteria) (the PTSD self-rating scale).

The correspondence between persistent self-reported post-traumatic problems and general practitioners' reports after a major disaster.

Background: Little is known about the correspondence between persistent self-reported disaster-related psychological problems and these problems reported by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study is to analyse this correspondence and to identify the factors associated with GPs' detection of persistent psychological problems.

Method: This study was conducted in a sample of 879 adult disaster-affected victims, taken from two longitudinal sources: the Enschede Firework Disaster Study and the GP-Monitor Study.

The association between dispositional optimism and mental health problems among disaster victims and a comparison group: a prospective study.

Background: It is unclear whether the associations between the level of dispositional optimism on the one hand, and depression symptoms and other health problems on the other hand among disaster victims differ from the associations among non-affected residents.

Methods: To assess the associations between the level of dispositional optimism and health problems among disaster victims and non-affected residents, data of the longitudinal Enschede Fireworks Disaster Study was analyzed. Participants in the present study consisted of adult native Dutch victims of the disaster (N=662) and a non-affected comparison group (N=526).

The independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for postdisaster intrusions, avoidance reactions, and PTSD symptom severity: a 4-year prospective study.

This 4-year prospective study (N=662) of victims of a fireworks disaster examines the independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for self-reported intrusions, avoidance reactions, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity at both 18-months (T2) and almost 4-years postdisaster (T3). Peritraumatic dissociation was measured 2-3 weeks after the disaster (T1). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that peritraumatic dissociation was not a strong independent predictor for intrusions and avoidance reactions and PTSD symptom severity at T2 or at T3 above initial intrusions, avoidance reactions, and psychological distress (T1).

Post-disaster mental health problems and the utilization of mental health services: a four-year longitudinal comparative study.

This study examined mental health problems and mental health services (MHS) utilization after a fireworks disaster among adult survivors and a comparison group. The disaster took place on May 13, 2000, in the city of Enschede, The Netherlands. Victims (N=662) participated in a survey 2-3 weeks (T1), 18 months (T2) and 4 years (T3) post-disaster.

Hypnotherapy for traumatic grief: janetian and modern approaches integrated.

Traumatic grief occurs when psychological trauma obstructs mourning. Nosologically, it is related to pathological grief and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapeutic advances from both fields make it clear that the trauma per se must be accessed before mourning can proceed.