Fifteen years after a ferry disaster: clinical interviews and survivors' self-assessment of their experience.

BACKGROUND

Disasters yield increased rates of psychological disorders decades later. Other consequences, however, have received little attention in the past.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine diagnostic status and survivors' views on disaster-related consequences and social support.

METHODS

A mixed-methods approach was used with 22 survivors (of 49 eligible) 15 years after a ferry disaster. Data collection included audiotaped interviews with open-ended questions and diagnostic assessment of Axis-I disorders.

RESULTS

The post-disaster incidence was 54% (12/22) for Axis-I disorders, and 45% (10/22) for full or subsyndromal posttraumatic stress disorder. Thematic analysis revealed that survivor perception of the long-term consequences included positive (character change) and negative aspects (being ascribed a survivor identity). Participants' sought social support for several years, yet many felt hindered by experiential dissimilarity and distress of significant others.

CONCLUSIONS

Axis-I disorders were prevalent, but not salient to survivors' perceptions in the long-term. Post-disaster interventions need to attend to common barriers to support.