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Overview of the Psychosocial Impact of Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Gloria R. Leon
Gloria R. Leon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
*
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Elliott Hall, 75 E. River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA E-mail: leonx003@umn.edu
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Abstract

The psychosocial sequelae can be intense and of long duration in the aftermath of natural and technological disasters, as well as terrorist attacks. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and full syndrome disorder, depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, and excessive alcohol use have been demonstrated consistently, particularly following large-scale disasters. This paper examines the psychological research conducted at various intervals after extensive natural disasters, the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl technological accidents, and recent terrorist events in the United States. Factors predictive of the emergence of emotional distress and psychological and physical problems following a disaster also are discussed.

Keywords

natural disasterspsychosocial sequelaetechnological disastersterrorism
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 19 , Special Issue 1: Psychosocial Themes , March 2004 , pp. 4 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2004

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