Citation

North CS, Pfefferbaum B, Narayanan P, Thielman S, McCoy G, Dumont C, Kawasaki A, Ryosho N, Kim YS, Spitznagel EL. Br. J. Psychiatry 2005; 186: 487-493.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8134, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. NorthC@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.186.6.487

PMID

15928359

Abstract

BACKGROUND: African disaster-affected populations are poorly represented in disaster mental health literature. AIMS: To compare systematically assessed mental health in populations directly exposed to terrorist bombing attacks on two continents, North America and Africa. METHOD: Structured diagnostic interviews compared citizens exposed to bombings of the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya (n=227) and the Oklahoma City Federal Building (n=182). RESULTS: Prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression were similar after the bombings. No incident (new since the bombing) alcohol use disorders were observed in either site. Symptom group C was strongly associated with PTSD in both sites. The Nairobi group relied more on religious support and the Oklahoma City group used more medical treatment, drugs and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Post-disaster psychopathology had many similarities in the two cultures; however, coping responses and treatment were quite different. The findings suggest potential for international generalisability of post-disaster psychopathology, but confirmatory studies are needed.

Language: en