Mental Health of Disaster Workers

So Hee Lee; Seog Ju Kim; Minyoung Sim; So Young Yoo; Sung Doo Won; Boung Chul Lee

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.135

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Lee, Kim, Sim, Yoo, Won, and Lee: Mental Health of Disaster Workers

Special Issue

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(2): 135-141.

Published online: 31 May 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.135

Mental Health of Disaster Workers

So Hee Lee, MD, PhD¹, Seog Ju Kim, MD, PhD², Minyoung Sim, MD, PhD³, So Young Yoo, MD, PhD¹, Sung Doo Won, MA⁴, Boung Chul Lee, MD, PhD⁵

¹Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Keyo Hospital, Keyo Medical Foundation, Uiwang, Korea.

⁵Department of Psychiatry, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: So Hee Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, 245 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-799, Korea. Tel +82-2-2260-7311, Fax +82-2-2268-5028, psyhee@hanmail.net

Received 10 February 2015 Revised 10 March 2015 Accepted 15 March 2015

Abstract

We sought to gain insights on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, the risk and protective factors and the prevention and intervention programs of mental health problems among disaster workers. The prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among disaster workers was higher than that of the general population and lower than that of disaster survivors. They might suffer from various mental health problems and comorbid disorders. Those mental problems could affect not only their physical health but also self-medication, life satisfaction, and job functioning. Heterogeneous and various factors were positively and negatively associated with psychiatric problems. Prevention and intervention programs were summarized for PTSD among disaster workers. Self-help technique 'RESCUE' and cognitive behavior therapy, developed especially for disaster workers was introduced. Future research and directions were suggested.

Keywords: Mental health, Uniformed rescue workers, Disaster, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Self-help technique for disaster workers, 'RESCUE!'

Permitted and Adapted from Lee SH, Kim SJ, Shim MY, Yoo SY, Won SD, Lee BC. Development of Clinical Guidelines for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NMC;201440)

Table 2

Cognitive-behavioral therapy program for disaster workers

Permitted and Adapted from Lee SH, Kim SJ, Shim MY, Yoo SY, Won SD, Lee BC. Development of Clinical Guidelines for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NMC;201440)

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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