@article{ref1,
title="Risk factors for psychological and physical health problems after a man-made disaster: Prospective study",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="2006",
author="Dirkzwager, Anja J. E. and Grievink, Linda and van der Velden, Peter G. and Yzermans, C. Joris",
volume="189",
number="",
pages="144-149",
abstract="BACKGROUND: There are few prospective studies on risk factors for health problems after disasters in which actual pre-disaster health data are available. AIMS: To examine whether survivors' personal characteristics, and pre-disaster psychological problems, and disaster-related variables, are related to their post-disaster health. METHOD: Two studies were combined: a longitudinal survey using the electronic medical records of survivors' general practitioners (GPs), from 1 year before to 1 year after the disaster, and a survey in which questionnaires were filled in by survivors, 3 weeks and18 months after the disaster. Data from both surveys and the electronic medical records were available for 994 survivors. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic and disaster-related variables, pre-existing psychological problems were significantly associated with post-disaster self-reported health problems and post-disaster problems presented presentedtothe to the GP. This association was found for both psychological and physical post-disaster problems. CONCLUSIONS: In trying to prevent long-term health consequences after disaster, early attention to survivors with pre-existing psychological problems, and to those survivors who are forced to relocate or are exposed to many stressors during the disaster, appears appropriate.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="10.1192/bjp.bp.105.017855",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.105.017855"
}