John Libbey Eurotext




Psychological stress after the Somme flood disaster: an exploratory study
l'Information Psychiatrique. Volume 79, Number 4, 307-18, Avril 2003, Après coups
Résumé Article gratuit
Author(s) : Khadija Chahraoui, Alexandra Laurent, Ludvina Colbeau-Justin, Karine Weiss, Bernadette de Vanssay
Summary : The aim of this exploratory study, concerning victims of the Somme flood disaster, was to identify and describe the forms of psychological distress. The results show that the victims presented and still present many negative reactions, particularly emotional symptoms. Three months after the disaster, the subjects interviewed continue to suffer from anxiety disorders (tension, stress, irritability) and sleeping disorders, while two of the nineteen subjects present symptoms of post-traumatic stress. However, though the study enabled us to identify signs of psychological suffering and vulnerability related to the immediate and long-term impact of this event, we cannot confirm the presence of real psychopathological disorders in the group, especially as the subjects successfully resorted to active coping strategies.
Keywords : post-traumatic stress, victims, vulnerability, anxiety disorders, sleeping disorders.

Psychological stress after the Somme flood disaster: an exploratory study