Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors

Edda Bjork Thordardottir; Unnur Anna Valdimarsdottir; Ingunn Hansdottir; Heidi Resnick; Jillian C. Shipherd; Berglind Gudmundsdottir

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005

Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors

Edda Bjork Thordardottir
, Unnur Anna Valdimarsdottir
, Ingunn Hansdottir
, Heidi Resnick
, Jillian C. Shipherd
, Berglind Gudmundsdottir

University of Iceland, Landspitali

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

To date, no study has investigated the effects of avalanches on survivor's health beyond the first years. The aim of this study was to examine long-term health status 16 years after exposure to avalanches using a matched cohort design. Mental health, sleep quality and somatic symptoms among avalanche survivors (n= 286) and non-exposed controls (n= 357) were examined. Results showed that 16% of survivors currently experience avalanche-specific PTSD symptoms (PDS score. >. 14). In addition, survivors presented with increased risk of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms (>85th percentile) (aRR. = 1.83; 98.3% CI [1.23-2.74]); sleep-related problems (PSQI score. >. 5) (aRR. = 1.34; 95% CI [1.05-1.70]); PTSD-related sleep disturbances (PSQI-A score. ≥. 4) (aRR. = 1.86; 95% CI [1.30-2.67]); musculoskeletal and nervous system problems (aRR 1.43; 99% CI 1.06-1.93) and gastrointestinal problems (aRR 2.16; 99% CI 1.21-3.86) compared to the unexposed group. Results highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	103-111
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume	32
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: We would like to thank Harpa Jonsdottir for her help in collecting data and the late Jakob Smari for his invaluable support in initiating and designing this study. This study was funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students (Rannis) and the Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund . Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Other keywords

Avalanche
Disaster
Mental health
Physical health
Posttraumatic stress disorder

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10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005

Cite this

@article{3dab5d8901d549c8839e05ef0684f955,

title = "Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors",

abstract = "To date, no study has investigated the effects of avalanches on survivor's health beyond the first years. The aim of this study was to examine long-term health status 16 years after exposure to avalanches using a matched cohort design. Mental health, sleep quality and somatic symptoms among avalanche survivors (n= 286) and non-exposed controls (n= 357) were examined. Results showed that 16\% of survivors currently experience avalanche-specific PTSD symptoms (PDS score. >. 14). In addition, survivors presented with increased risk of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms (>85th percentile) (aRR. = 1.83; 98.3\% CI [1.23-2.74]); sleep-related problems (PSQI score. >. 5) (aRR. = 1.34; 95\% CI [1.05-1.70]); PTSD-related sleep disturbances (PSQI-A score. ≥. 4) (aRR. = 1.86; 95\% CI [1.30-2.67]); musculoskeletal and nervous system problems (aRR 1.43; 99\% CI 1.06-1.93) and gastrointestinal problems (aRR 2.16; 99\% CI 1.21-3.86) compared to the unexposed group. Results highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.",

keywords = "Avalanche, Disaster, Mental health, Physical health, Posttraumatic stress disorder",

author = "Thordardottir, \{Edda Bjork\} and Valdimarsdottir, \{Unnur Anna\} and Ingunn Hansdottir and Heidi Resnick and Shipherd, \{Jillian C.\} and Berglind Gudmundsdottir",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Harpa Jonsdottir for her help in collecting data and the late Jakob Smari for his invaluable support in initiating and designing this study. This study was funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students (Rannis) and the Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Ltd.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

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journal = "Journal of Anxiety Disorders",

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T2 - A 16-year follow-up of survivors

AU - Thordardottir, Edda Bjork

AU - Valdimarsdottir, Unnur Anna

AU - Hansdottir, Ingunn

AU - Resnick, Heidi

AU - Shipherd, Jillian C.

AU - Gudmundsdottir, Berglind

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Harpa Jonsdottir for her help in collecting data and the late Jakob Smari for his invaluable support in initiating and designing this study. This study was funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students (Rannis) and the Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund . Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

PY - 2015/5/1

Y1 - 2015/5/1

N2 - To date, no study has investigated the effects of avalanches on survivor's health beyond the first years. The aim of this study was to examine long-term health status 16 years after exposure to avalanches using a matched cohort design. Mental health, sleep quality and somatic symptoms among avalanche survivors (n= 286) and non-exposed controls (n= 357) were examined. Results showed that 16% of survivors currently experience avalanche-specific PTSD symptoms (PDS score. >. 14). In addition, survivors presented with increased risk of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms (>85th percentile) (aRR. = 1.83; 98.3% CI [1.23-2.74]); sleep-related problems (PSQI score. >. 5) (aRR. = 1.34; 95% CI [1.05-1.70]); PTSD-related sleep disturbances (PSQI-A score. ≥. 4) (aRR. = 1.86; 95% CI [1.30-2.67]); musculoskeletal and nervous system problems (aRR 1.43; 99% CI 1.06-1.93) and gastrointestinal problems (aRR 2.16; 99% CI 1.21-3.86) compared to the unexposed group. Results highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.

AB - To date, no study has investigated the effects of avalanches on survivor's health beyond the first years. The aim of this study was to examine long-term health status 16 years after exposure to avalanches using a matched cohort design. Mental health, sleep quality and somatic symptoms among avalanche survivors (n= 286) and non-exposed controls (n= 357) were examined. Results showed that 16% of survivors currently experience avalanche-specific PTSD symptoms (PDS score. >. 14). In addition, survivors presented with increased risk of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms (>85th percentile) (aRR. = 1.83; 98.3% CI [1.23-2.74]); sleep-related problems (PSQI score. >. 5) (aRR. = 1.34; 95% CI [1.05-1.70]); PTSD-related sleep disturbances (PSQI-A score. ≥. 4) (aRR. = 1.86; 95% CI [1.30-2.67]); musculoskeletal and nervous system problems (aRR 1.43; 99% CI 1.06-1.93) and gastrointestinal problems (aRR 2.16; 99% CI 1.21-3.86) compared to the unexposed group. Results highlight the need for treatment for long-term PTSD symptoms and sleep disruption in disaster communities.

KW - Avalanche

KW - Disaster

KW - Mental health

KW - Physical health

KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder

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DO - 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.005

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SN - 0887-6185

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SP - 103

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JO - Journal of Anxiety Disorders

JF - Journal of Anxiety Disorders

ER -

Posttraumatic stress and other health consequences of catastrophic avalanches: A 16-year follow-up of survivors

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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