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. 2007 Apr;97 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S116-23.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.086678. Epub 2007 Apr 5.

Trauma and stress response among Hurricane Katrina evacuees

Mary Alice Mills  1 , Donald Edmondson, Crystal L Park
Affiliations

Trauma and stress response among Hurricane Katrina evacuees

Mary Alice Mills et al. Am J Public Health. 2007 Apr.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Percentage of participants who experienced Hurrican Katrina–specific trauma and loss and bivariate odds ratios (ORs; with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for associated acute stress disorder.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Hurricane Katrina–specific perceptions and bivariate odds ratios (ORs; with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for associated acute stress disorder. Note. Scale: 0 (not at all) to 6 (extremely).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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