Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot
Background/Purpose: Typhoon Morakot in August 2009 caused significant damages and health and socio-economic impacts in Taiwan. Therefore, we evaluated the mental health status of adult and patients who lived in the affected area after the disaster. Methods: An observational, prospective population-b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620302060 |
| _version_ | 1819055877963907072 |
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| author | Hsin-I. Shih Tzu-Yuan Chao Yi-Ting Huang Yi-Fang Tu Jung-Der Wang Chia-Ming Chang |
| author_facet | Hsin-I. Shih Tzu-Yuan Chao Yi-Ting Huang Yi-Fang Tu Jung-Der Wang Chia-Ming Chang |
| author_sort | Hsin-I. Shih |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Purpose: Typhoon Morakot in August 2009 caused significant damages and health and socio-economic impacts in Taiwan. Therefore, we evaluated the mental health status of adult and patients who lived in the affected area after the disaster. Methods: An observational, prospective population-based study was conducted. Adults living in the affected area were selected as the affected population in the National Health Insurance Database from January 2008 to December 2011. Prevalence and incidence of stress-associated illnesses, such as insomnia, anxiety, depressive, adjustment and mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the psychiatry department were analysed after the disaster. Results: A total of 897,689 adult patients were studied. Of the affected population without pre-existing chronic mental health illness, the monthly visits for stress-associated illnesses, such as insomnia, anxiety, depressive disorders and PTSD increased about twice after the disaster in elderly and non-elderly groups. Comparing to the non-elderly group, the elderly group has more increased in the incidence of insomnia (356% vs. 318% increase) and depressive disorders (308% vs. 245%) but was affected to a lesser extent increase in the anxiety (269% vs. 307%), PTSD, episodic mood disorders (82% vs. 158%), and adjustment reaction (160% vs. 202%). Conclusion: The mental health statuses of patients who experienced a major natural disaster deteriorated in the elderly population after the disaster. However, we still need pay more attentions on the elderly of the affected population to decrease the risk for insomnia and depressive disorders after the disaster. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:14:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dac3276f030741d39ddcd1dafda0b608 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0929-6646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:14:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-dac3276f030741d39ddcd1dafda0b6082022-12-21T19:02:47ZengElsevierJournal of the Formosan Medical Association0929-66462021-01-011201337345Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon MorakotHsin-I. Shih0Tzu-Yuan Chao1Yi-Ting Huang2Yi-Fang Tu3Jung-Der Wang4Chia-Ming Chang5Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Urban Planning, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Paediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, No. 138, Shengli Rd., North Dist., Tainan City, 70403, Taiwan. Fax: +886 6 3028291.Background/Purpose: Typhoon Morakot in August 2009 caused significant damages and health and socio-economic impacts in Taiwan. Therefore, we evaluated the mental health status of adult and patients who lived in the affected area after the disaster. Methods: An observational, prospective population-based study was conducted. Adults living in the affected area were selected as the affected population in the National Health Insurance Database from January 2008 to December 2011. Prevalence and incidence of stress-associated illnesses, such as insomnia, anxiety, depressive, adjustment and mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the psychiatry department were analysed after the disaster. Results: A total of 897,689 adult patients were studied. Of the affected population without pre-existing chronic mental health illness, the monthly visits for stress-associated illnesses, such as insomnia, anxiety, depressive disorders and PTSD increased about twice after the disaster in elderly and non-elderly groups. Comparing to the non-elderly group, the elderly group has more increased in the incidence of insomnia (356% vs. 318% increase) and depressive disorders (308% vs. 245%) but was affected to a lesser extent increase in the anxiety (269% vs. 307%), PTSD, episodic mood disorders (82% vs. 158%), and adjustment reaction (160% vs. 202%). Conclusion: The mental health statuses of patients who experienced a major natural disaster deteriorated in the elderly population after the disaster. However, we still need pay more attentions on the elderly of the affected population to decrease the risk for insomnia and depressive disorders after the disaster.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620302060DisasterElderlyFloodMental healthTyphoon |
| spellingShingle | Hsin-I. Shih Tzu-Yuan Chao Yi-Ting Huang Yi-Fang Tu Jung-Der Wang Chia-Ming Chang Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Disaster Elderly Flood Mental health Typhoon |
| title | Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot |
| title_full | Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot |
| title_fullStr | Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot |
| title_short | Increased incidence of stress-associated illnesses among elderly after Typhoon Morakot |
| title_sort | increased incidence of stress associated illnesses among elderly after typhoon morakot |
| topic | Disaster Elderly Flood Mental health Typhoon |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620302060 |
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