TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Gender differences in the psychological impact of tsunami
JO  - International journal of social psychiatry
A1  - Viswanath, Bjiu
A1  - Maroky, Ami S.
A1  - Math, Suresh B.
A1  - John, John P.
A1  - Cherian, Anish V.
A1  - Girimaji, Satish C.
A1  - Benegal, Vivek
A1  - Hamza, Ameer
A1  - Chaturvedi, Santosh K.
SP  - 130
EP  - 136
VL  - 59
IS  - 2
N2  - AIM: The aim of this observational study was to explore gender-related differences in psychiatric morbidity during the initial three months following the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami involving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. METHODS: There were 12,784 survivors sheltered across 74 relief camps with 4,684 displaced survivors in Port Blair and 8,100 non-displaced survivors in Car-Nicobar Island. All persons who accessed mental health assistance within the camps constituted the study sample. Diagnoses were made by qualified psychiatrists using the ICD-10. There were 475 patients: 188 (40%) men and 287 (60%) women. RESULTS: There were significant gender differences in terms of displacement. There were significantly higher levels of panic disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder and somatic complaints in the displaced women while the non-displaced population showed more adjustment disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Displacement was a significant factor in the manifestations of observed pathology. Displaced women had greater psychiatric morbidity. In addition, the fact that adjustment disorder (a self-limiting disorder form of psychopathology) was more prevalent in the non-displaced group may be a reflection of the findings of overall lesser morbidity in non-displaced women. Hence, women may have to be rehabilitated in their own habitats after major disasters.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0020-7640
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764011423469
ID  - ref1
ER  -