Posttraumatic stress disorder - Victims of the Saguenay flood

OBJECTIVE To measure the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and emotional distress among victims of the Saguenay flood compared with those who were not affected by the flood. DESIGN Cross-sectional study using a telephone survey of victims and a control group. SETTING Chicoutimi, Que. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two adults in a flooded area and a control group of 79 volunteers chosen randomly from an adjacent area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder measured using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index and high scores on the Self-Reporting Questionnaire on emotional distress. RESULTS Socially and demographically, study group and control group were comparable. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in the study group was close to 20% (odds ratio [OR] 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63 to 22.64). Prevalence of emotional distress in the study group was 29% (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.04 to 5.61). CONCLUSION The Saguenay flood caused psychological distress that was measurable 4 months later. Health care professionals should be aware of the psychological effects of natural disasters.