Natural Disasters and Mental Health: Theory, Assessment, and Intervention

The link between natural disasters & subsequent psychosocial adjustment is multifaceted & best understood using an analytical approach. A multivariate risk-factor model that includes predisaster factors (eg, demographic traits, mental health history), disaster factors (eg, severity, degree of exposure), postdisaster factors (eg, initial distress level, resource loss, social support), & mental health outcomes (eg, substance abuse, anxiety, positive experiences) is proposed. This model can guide the development of psychological assessment procedures & assist both research & clinical work. Its implications for intervention include the need to individualize services & target mental health help to the appropriate phase of disaster recovery. The assessment instrument used for interviewing victims of Hurricane Hugo is appended. 1 Table, 1 Appendix, 63 References. Adapted from the source document.