Psychological response to disasters

The psychological ramifications of a disaster are numerous. No group of involved people is spared. Survivors, families, rescue workers, clean-up crews and entire communities may display symptoms of a normal, predictable response to being confronted with an extremety emotional and overwhelming event. These symptoms are intrusive imagery, sleep disturbances, sadness, anger, guilt, a sense of helplessness and anxiety. Crisis intervention is the treatment of choice within the first few hours to months after the disaster. The goal is to reduce symptomatic behaviour and return the individual to a previous level of function (AU)