Investigating the psychological cost of the floods Victoria Mason, Allan Jones, Holly Andrews, Dominic Upton Psychology and Health Sciences, University of Worcester

Background Floods affecting Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire in July 2007 Floods affecting Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire in July 2007 Unique opportunity to assess the impact Unique opportunity to assess the impact

Previous research Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a range of natural disasters Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a range of natural disasters Studies have found the overall prevalence rate of PTSD to range from 1.0 – 24% Studies have found the overall prevalence rate of PTSD to range from 1.0 – 24% 8.6% prevalence in people affected by floods in china (Liu et al, 2006) 8.6% prevalence in people affected by floods in china (Liu et al, 2006) Dearth of qualitative studies Dearth of qualitative studies

PTSD ICD-10 and DSM-IV ICD-10 and DSM-IV Anxiety disorder following exposure to trauma Anxiety disorder following exposure to trauma Symptoms include Symptoms include Trauma re-experiencing, emotional numbing or avoidance and exaggerated arousal Why do some develop and not others? Why do some develop and not others?

Risk factors Female, trauma type, low socioeconomic status, exposure to previous traumatic events, previous mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, emotional distress Frans et al., 2005; Kessler et al., 1995; Perkonigg et al., 2000; Rosenman, 2002

Aims To assess the psychological impact of the floods To estimate the prevalence rate of PTSD To identify risk factors of PTSD To gather more in-depth information on the experience and impact of the floods and its aftermath to contextualise the data derived from the quantitative phase

Method Phase I Phase I Postal survey of flood affected households Postal survey of flood affected households Whychavon (N=1550) (November 2007) Whychavon (N=1550) (November 2007) Tewkesbury (N=1662) (January 2008) Tewkesbury (N=1662) (January 2008) Self-selected (N=30) (January/February 2008) Self-selected (N=30) (January/February 2008) Collected Collected Demographic information Demographic information Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ, 40 items) Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ, 40 items) Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL, 25 items) Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL, 25 items) Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ, 60 items) Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ, 60 items)

Method Phase II Phase II In-depth qualitative study of flood affected individuals In-depth qualitative study of flood affected individuals Personal experience Personal experience

Results Phase I Phase I Undergoing analysis Undergoing analysis Phase II Phase II Commencing soon Commencing soon

Implications Assessment of the psychological impact of the floods Assessment of the psychological impact of the floods Increased understanding of how individuals cope with stressors brought about by floods Increased understanding of how individuals cope with stressors brought about by floods Feedback to Councils and service providers Feedback to Councils and service providers Establish guidelines for the screening and identification of psychological trauma in the UK following a natural disaster Establish guidelines for the screening and identification of psychological trauma in the UK following a natural disaster Gain a better understanding of the aetiology of PTSD to enable early detection and prevention Gain a better understanding of the aetiology of PTSD to enable early detection and prevention

Wellbeing? Paradox Paradox Quality of life Quality of life Resilience versus vulnerability Resilience versus vulnerability Social and psychological factors Social and psychological factors Positive psychology Positive psychology

Acknowledgements Staff at Wychavon District Council Staff at Wychavon District Council Staff at Tewkesbury Borough Council Staff at Tewkesbury Borough Council All participating individuals who have been affected by the floods All participating individuals who have been affected by the floods