Trauma And Mental Health In The Wake Of A Technological Disaster

A gas explosion in Ghislenghien (Belgium, July 2004) instantly killed five firefighters, one police officer and 18 civilians. Moreover, 132 people were wounded and many of them suffered severe burn injuries. This book aims at clarifying the impact of a technological disaster, both phenomenologically and empirically. It also wishes to enhance the understanding of the challenges for psychological help in the wake of technological disaster. On the phenomenological side, the experiences of a disaster survivor are used to set the stage for a discussion on the conceptual differences between mainstream (Anglo-Saxon) trauma theories and the more classical (French) psychodynamic theories. Three chapters provide contextual information on the trauma inflicted by a massive explosion. On the empirical side, the focus is on the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms in adult and child survivors of a massive gas explosion, in their family members as well as in family members of deceased victims. Four chapters provide a quantitative approach of trauma-related mental health disturbances in adults and children after a technological disaster. The results clearly indicate the influence of the degree of exposure, peritraumatic dissociation and dissatisfaction with social support on the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. The risk for the development of four types of mental health disturbances (somatization, depression, anxiety and sleeping disturbances) was much higher in direct witnesses who have seen human damage. The epilogue discusses possible future developments for early psychophysiological stabilization of disaster victims.

Renowned scientists and practitioners provide a concise summary of current theory, research, and clinical practice regarding traumatic stress. An integrative biopsychosocial theory of trauma response provides a framework for the book. Chapters consider the frequency and likely mental health consequences of a wide range of traumatic events-including military trauma, violent crime, natural and technological disasters, accidental injury, and torture. This comprehensive reference features state-of-the-art psychosocial and biological treatments and community-based intervention strategies.

A reference on mental health and disasters, focused on the full spectrum of psychopathologies associated with many different types of disasters.

In the devastation that follows a major disaster, there is a need for multiple sectors to unite and devote new resources to support the rebuilding of infrastructure, the provision of health and social services, the restoration of care delivery systems, and other critical recovery needs. In some cases, billions of dollars from public, private and charitable sources are invested to help communities recover. National rhetoric often characterizes these efforts as a "return to normal." But for many American communities, pre-disaster conditions are far from optimal. Large segments of the U.S. population suffer from preventable health problems, experience inequitable access to services, and rely on overburdened health systems. A return to pre-event conditions in such cases may be short-sighted given the high costs - both economic and social - of poor health. Instead, it is important to understand that the disaster recovery process offers a series of unique and valuable opportunities to improve on the status quo. Capitalizing on these opportunities can advance the long-term health, resilience, and sustainability of communities - thereby better preparing them for future challenges. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters identifies and recommends recovery practices and novel programs most likely to impact overall community public health and contribute to resiliency for future incidents. This book makes the case that disaster recovery should be guided by a healthy community vision, where health considerations are integrated into all aspects of recovery planning before and after a disaster, and funding streams are leveraged in a coordinated manner and applied to health improvement priorities in order to meet human recovery needs and create healthy built and natural environments. The conceptual framework presented in Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters lays the groundwork to achieve this goal and provides operational guidance for multiple sectors involved in community planning and disaster recovery. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters calls for actions at multiple levels to facilitate recovery strategies that optimize community health. With a shared healthy community vision, strategic planning that prioritizes health, and coordinated implementation, disaster recovery can result in a communities that are healthier, more livable places for current and future generations to grow and thrive - communities that are better prepared for future adversities.

The Oklahoma City bombing, intentional crashing of airliners on September 11, 2001, and anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 have made Americans acutely aware of the impacts of terrorism. These events and continued threats of terrorism have raised questions about the impact on the psychological health of the nation and how well the public health infrastructure is able to meet the psychological needs that will likely result. Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism highlights some of the critical issues in responding to the psychological needs that result from terrorism and provides possible options for intervention. The committee offers an example for a public health strategy that may serve as a base from which plans to prevent and respond to the psychological consequences of a variety of terrorism events can be formulated. The report includes recommendations for the training and education of service providers, ensuring appropriate guidelines for the protection of service providers, and developing public health surveillance for preevent, event, and postevent factors related to psychological consequences.

This follow-up book to Ursano et al.'s earlier title Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster expands the focus on terrorism. There is widespread belief among professionals that terrorism (and torture) produce the highest and most diffuse rates of psychiatric sequelae of all types of disaster. This book's international experts assess the lessons learned from the most recent atrocities. They look at prevention, individual and organizational intervention, the effect of leadership, and the effects of technological disasters and bioterrorism/contamination. Also available Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster 1994 0-521-41633-7 Hardback $135.00M 0-521-55643-0 Paperback $59.00M

This book presents a decade of advances in the psychological, biological and social responses to disasters, helping medics and leaders prepare and react.