Citation

Jang KI, Shim M, Lee SM, Huh HJ, Huh S, Joo JY, Lee SH, Chae JH. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2017; 71(11): 759-768.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/pcn.12546

PMID

28632358

Abstract

AIM: The Sewol ferry capsizing accident in South Korea's southern coast had resulted in the death of 304 people, and serious bereavement problems of their families. Electroencephalography (EEG) beta frequency is associated with psychiatric symptoms such as insomnia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between frontal beta power, psychological symptoms, and insomnia in the bereaved families.

METHODS: Eighty-four family members of the Sewol ferry victims (32 men and 52 women) were recruited and their EEG was compared with that of 25 (13 men and 12 women) healthy controls. A two-channel EEG device was used to measure cortical activity in the frontal lobe. Symptom severity of insomnia, PTSD, complicated grief, and anxiety were evaluated.

RESULTS: The bereaved families showed a higher frontal beta power than healthy controls. Subgroup analysis showed that frontal beta power was lower in the individuals with severe insomnia than in those with normal sleep. There was a significant inverse correlation between frontal beta power and insomnia symptom in the bereaved families.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that increased beta power, reflecting the psychopathology in the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster, may be a compensatory mechanism that follows complex trauma. Frontal beta power could be a potential marker indicating the severity of sleep disturbances. Our results suggest that sleep disturbances is an important symptom in family members of the Sewol ferry disaster's victims, which may be screened by EEG beta power.

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Language: en

Keywords

Sewol ferry disaster; bereavement; beta power; electroencephalography (EEG); insomnia