Trauma and Stress Response Among Hurricane Katrina Evacuees

Bibliographic Data

ID11039765
AuthorsMary Alice Mills (Mary Alice Mills, Donald Edmondson, and Crystal L. Park are with the Department of Psychology, Clinical Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs.), Donald Edmondson (0000-0002-4518-8196, Mary Alice Mills, Donald Edmondson, and Crystal L. Park are with the Department of Psychology, Clinical Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs.), Crystal L Park (0000-0001-6572-7321, Mary Alice Mills, Donald Edmondson, and Crystal L. Park are with the Department of Psychology, Clinical Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs.)
Year2007
Volume97
IssueSupplement_1
PagesS116-S123
Publication date2007-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2006.086678
PMID17413068
PMCIDPMC1854990
OpenAlexW2099325151
LanguageEN
Citations received39
References cited42

Objectives. Hurricane Katrina’s impact on public health has been significant and multifaceted, with trauma-related psychological sequelae likely to result in a sizable burden of disease. Data were collected that assessed acute stress disorder (ASD) prevalence and factors related to ASD symptomatology among sheltered evacuees. Methods. On days 12 to 19 after Katrina, evacuees at a major emergency shelter completed surveys that assessed demographics, Katrina-specific experiences, and ASD symptomatology. Results. Sixty-two percent of the sample met ASD threshold criterion. Projections based on the predictive power of ASD to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that 38% to 49% of the sample will meet PTSD criteria 2 years post-disaster. Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 4.08), positive psychiatric history (OR=5.84), injury (OR=2.75), increased life-threat perception (OR=1.37), and decreased sense of personal control (OR=1.56) were significantly related to ASD. Black race was associated with greater symptom severity (B=7.85, SE[B]=3.50). Conclusions. Katrina-related trauma and its psychological sequelae will remain a significant public health issue for years to come. The identification of several vulnerability factors related to ASD and PTSD provides a brief sketch of those at greatest risk

Acute Stress Disorder · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Odds ratio · Poison control · Posttraumatic stress · Psychiatry · Public health · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Disaster Response and Management · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Traumatic Brain Injury Research