TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Tsunami-exposed Tourist Survivors: Signs of Recovery in a 3-year Perspective
JO  - Journal of nervous and mental disease
A1  - Johannesson, Kerstin Bergh
A1  - Lundin, Tom
A1  - Fröjd, Thomas
A1  - Hultman, Christina M.
A1  - Michel, Per-Olof
SP  - 162
EP  - 169
VL  - 199
IS  - 3
N2  - Long-term follow-up after disaster exposure indicates increased rates of psychological distress. However, trajectories and rates of recovery in large samples of disaster-exposed survivors are largely lacking. A group of 3457 Swedish survivors temporarily on vacation in Southeast Asia during the 2004 tsunami were assessed by postal questionnaire at 14 months and 3 years after the tsunami regarding post-traumatic stress reactions (IES-R) and general mental health (GHQ-12). There was a general pattern of resilience and recovery 3 years postdisaster. Severe exposure and traumatic bereavement were associated with increased post-traumatic stress reactions and heightened risk for impaired mental health. The rate of recovery was lower among respondents exposed to life threat and among bereaved. Severe trauma exposure and bereavement seem to have considerable long-term impact on psychological distress and appear to slow down the recovery process. Readiness among health agencies for identification of symptoms and provision of interventions might facilitate optimal recovery.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-3018
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31820c73d1
ID  - ref1
ER  -