Psychological aftermath of the Lviv air show disaster: a prospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the psychological aftermath of an air show disaster using prospectively obtained epidemiologic data.

METHOD

Participants in a recently completed epidemiologic mental health survey in Lviv (disaster site) and controls from western Ukraine were interviewed shortly before and 6 months after a gruesome air show disaster.

RESULTS

The Lviv group reported more psychopathology and post-traumatic stress symptom severity, but less anomie than controls. Somatization symptoms were similar in the two groups. Predisaster mental health and postdisaster threat were the strongest risk factors while demographic characteristics, emotional support, and repeated television viewing of the event were only weakly associated with postdisaster mental health.

CONCLUSION

This is the first prospective study to find a significantly higher rate of disorder as well as post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology after a disaster. The risk factor findings suggest avenues for targeting postdisaster interventions.