ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychological impact of living near a nuclear waste disaster that involved ongoing threat of radioactive contamination. METHOD: Participants were an exposed sample (residence within a 5-mile radius of the nuclear plant) of 120 children (7-15 years old) and their parents and a nonexposed comparison sample of 60 children and their parents. Parent and self-ratings of the children's psychological functioning and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were obtained, along with cognitive variables. RESULTS: Minimal differences between the 2 samples were found. In the exposed sample, stress responses for the child self-reports showed several age group by gender interactions. Girls' PTSD symptoms tended to increase with age while boys' symptoms decreased, with intrusion showing the strongest effects. While child and parent PTSD symptom ratings were correlated, children reported approximately twice as many symptoms. Cognitive understanding increased with age and was greater in boys. Exposure and parent functioning significantly predicted outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender effects after disaster might best be explored as an interaction. While disaster effects were mild, the psychological health of the parents may be an important determinant of psychological health in children in this type of disaster.
Subject(s)
Disasters , Radioactive Hazard Release , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Psychiatric reports of 179 children aged 2 to 15 who were exposed to the Buffalo Creek dam collapse in 1972 were rated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms 2 years after the disaster. Age and gender effects and the impact of the level of exposure and parental functioning were examined according to a conceptual model addressing factors contributing to adaptation to a traumatic event. Results showed fewer PTSD symptoms in the youngest age group and higher symptom levels for girls than boys. Approximately 37% of the children were given a "probable" diagnosis of PTSD. Multiple regression analysis showed that life threat, gender, parental psychopathology, and an irritable and/or depressed family atmosphere all contributed to the prediction of PTSD symptomatology in the children.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Disasters , Gender Identity , Parent-Child Relations , Personality Development , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , West VirginiaABSTRACT
A follow-up study of 120 adult survivors of the Buffalo Creek dam collapse of 1972 showed group changes 14 years after the event. Decreased symptoms were noted in all areas, although significant psychopathology remained in about one-quarter of the survivors. A small group with delayed onset of symptoms was identified.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Disasters , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Survival/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Tests , West VirginiaABSTRACT
The authors describe the neurologic signs of West Nile fever observed in Transcarpathian region. Several syndromes were singled out: polyneuralgic, encephalitic, poliomyelitic, meningeal, encephalopolyradiculoneuritic. The course of the disease was benign.
