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A longitudinal study of the psychological morbidity in children due to a natural disaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Alexander C. McFarlane ,
Sandra K. Policansky  and
Claire Irwin
Alexander C. McFarlane*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia, Australia
Sandra K. Policansky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia, Australia
Claire Irwin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia, Australia
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. C. McFarlane, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia 3042, Australia
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Synopsis

This longitudinal study examined the psychological impact of a bushfire disaster on a group of 808 children aged from 5 to 12. Contrary to prediction, the prevalence of behaviour and emotional problems 2 months after the fire was less than the prevalence in a carefully selected comparison group. Rather than decrease with time, the prevalence of psychological morbidity increased significantly, being as great 26 months after the disaster as at 8 months.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , August 1987 , pp. 727 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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