Consecuencias psicosociales de los desastres : La experiencia latinoamericana

Esta obra tiene como objetivo reunir la experiencia latinoamericana en desastres y salud mental y representa la continuación de los esfuerzos del Programa de Cooperación Internacional en Salud Mental "Simón Bolivar". Esta dividida en cinco secciones: en la primera se analizan aspectos generales de los desastres desde los puntos de vista de salud pública, conceptual e investigativo; en la segunda se describen aspectos clínicos de las víctimas de desastres con enfoques individual y clínico; la tercera, "La atención en salud mental para las victimas de desastres", pone de relieve las funciones complementarias que tienen los trabajadores de atención primaria, salud general y salud mental; en la cuarta, "Aspectos sociales y organizativos de los desastres", se enfocan cuestiones de tipo comunal y social; la quinta y última, "Educación, consultoria y capacitación en salud mental para desastres", abarca los problemas de la formación de recursos humanos en salud mental

Mental health responses in a Decade of Disasters : Australia, 1974-1983

Between 1974 and 1983, Australia experienced the Darwin cyclone, the Granville rail disasater, and the Ash Wednesday bushfires, each of which killed more than 60 people and caused significant emotional distress. Mental health response systems developed in the wake of the disasters varied in their level of sophistication and degree of acceptance, but they generally became better orchestrated and appreciated with each disaster. Lessons learned from research and review following one disaster were often applied in responding to the next. Research and review were particularly crucial in uncovering the presence of significant morbidity, including posttraumatic stress disorder, among relief workers and children and in highlighting the need for coordination of mental health services with other relief efforts. Many jurisdictions in Australia have since modified their disasater relief plans to include mental health services

Psychiatric reactions to disaster : The Mount St. Helens experience

Following the 1980 Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption, psychiatric reactions were studied in the disaster area and in a control community using the new criterion-based diagnostic method for psychiatric epidemiologic research, the diagnostic interview schedule. The authors found a significant prevalence of disaster-related psychiatric disorders. These Mount St. Helens disorders included depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress reaction. These was a progressive dose response relationship in the comparison of control, low-exposure, and high-exposure groups. The dose-response pattern occurred amoug both the bereaved and the property loss victims (AU)

Nuclear death : An unprecedented challenge to psychiatry and religion

The growing danger of a nuclear holocaust has intensified two aspects of the human predicament that concern both religion and psychiatry: the inevitability of death and the disastrous consequences of the characteristic termed pride by theologians and narcissism by psychiatrists. For the first time, humans have power to exterminate themselves and death threatens all ages equally. Pride of power causes leaders to exaggerate their ability to control nuclear weapons; moral pride leads to demonizing enemies. The author considers implications for psychiatrists and clergy, with special reference to preventing a nuclear holocaust(AU)

Ethical aspects of disaster research

The study of human behavior during and following disasters can provide valuable insights into the psychology of coping, particularly in extreme environmental circumstances and can provide clues about the etiology of psychiatric disorders. The nature of the crisis, the extent of the personal distress, and the helplessness of individuals affected, make those afflicted by disaster a particularly vulnerable group, whose distress may be increased by the researcher

Evaluation and care of suicidal behavior in emergency settings

The author offers a sequential protocol for the evaluation and care of suicidal behavior in emergency settings. This protocol contains the following components: 1) a review of the limitations of clinical and demographic risk factors; 2) an exploration of frecuent negative reactions that arise during the suicidal encounter in clinicians; 3) an objective schema for grading suicidal behavior: 4) an understanding of chronic suicidal behavior; and 5) a flexible treatment approach. Pertinent literature on suicide evaluation and management is reviewed with an emphasis toward the clinical applicability in emergency settings(AU)

Reactions of psychiatric patients to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident

The reactions of patients in the community mental health system to the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI), Middletown, Pa, were assessed. The sample was composed of 151 patients from the TMI area and 64 patients from a comparison site where a similar nuclear plant is located. Mental health status was determined for the period inmediately after the accident, nine to ten months later, and one year later. No significant differences were found between the TMI group and the comparison group. To isolate risk factors within the TMI group, patients who were most distressed were compared with patients with the least distress. The results showed that quality of network support and viewing TMI as dangerous were significantly associated with mental health (AU)