Collective Trauma and Mental Health in Adolescents

A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Effects of Retraumatization

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15516626
AutoresHannah Pazderka (0000-0002-3511-4652, University of Alberta), Matthew Brown (0000-0002-0937-9139, University of Alberta), Matthew R G Brown, Vincent I O Agyapong (0000-0002-2743-0372, University of Alberta), Andrew J Greenshaw (0000-0002-9097-900X, University of Alberta), Caroline Mcdonald‐harker (0000-0002-6481-448X, Mount Royal University), Caroline Beth McDonald-Harker, Shannon Noble (Cumulative Environmental Management Association), Monica Mankowski (Cumulative Environmental Management Association), Bonnie Lee (University of Lethbridge), Julie L Drolet, Julie Drolet (0000-0002-1520-3439, University of Calgary), Joy Omeje (University of Alberta), Pamela Brett-Maclean (0000-0001-9090-4174, University of Alberta), Deborah Terry Kitching (Cumulative Environmental Management Association), Peter H Silverstone (0000-0001-5176-7074, University of Alberta, autor de correspondencia)
Año2021
Volumen12
Páginas682041-682041
Fecha de publicación2021-06-25
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
EditorialFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.682041
PMID34248717
OpenAlexW3177178414
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas40

In the wake of the massive Canadian wildfire of May 2016 in the area of Fort McMurray Alberta, we observed increased rates of mental health problems, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in school-aged adolescents (ages 11-19). Surprisingly, we did not see these rates decline over the 3.5-year follow-up period. Additionally, our research suggested that the impact of this mass incident resulted in other unanticipated effects, including the finding that children who were not present for and relatively unaffected by the wildfire showed a similar PTSD symptom profile to children more directly involved, suggesting some degree of spillover or stress contagion. A potential explanation for these high rates in individuals who were not present could be undiagnosed retraumatization in some of the students. To investigate this possibility, we compared two groups of students: those who reported the wildfire as their most significant trauma ( n = 740) and those who had their most significant trauma prior to the wildfire ( n = 295). Those with significant pre-existing trauma had significantly higher rates of both depression and PTSD symptoms, although, unexpectedly the groups exhibited no differences in anxiety level. Taken together, this evidence suggests retraumatization is both longer-lasting and more widespread than might be predicted on a case-by-case basis, suggesting the need to reconceptualize the role of past trauma history in present symptomatology. These findings point to the need to recognize that crises instigated by natural disasters are mass phenomena which expose those involved to numerous unanticipated risks. New trauma-informed treatment approaches are required that incorporate sensitivity to the collective impact of mass crises, and recognize the risk of poorer long-term mental health outcomes for those who experienced trauma in the past

Anxiety · Anxiety disorder · Cohort · Depression (economics · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Mental health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Retrospective cohort study · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Internal Medicine