Christchurch's nerves shredded after quake

New Zealand has been shaken again by Sunday's earthquake - and new research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal reveals that post-disaster psychological symptoms can persist for more than 18 months for some individuals.
The study looks at the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on the psychological functioning of about 120 university staff and reveals insights into how different work roles affect how people cope with disaster. The researchers say this shows that organisations need to recognise and plan for psychological effects in order to give employees adequate support.
Eighteen months following the most severe earthquake, 119 staff from the University of Otago based in Christchurch completed a retrospective survey. This included demographic information, a measure of earthquake exposure, standardised and self-rated measures to identify psychological distress and measures of how people perceived different aspects of their work roles were impacted.
In the results a substantial minority of staff reported moderate-extreme difficulties on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) subscales 18 months following the most severe earthquake (Depression=9%; Anxiety=3%; Stress =13%). Predictors of distress were higher levels of exposure to earthquake-related stressors, neuroticism and prior mental health disorders. There was an association between impact and work roles that was hierarchical; academic and administrative roles were most affected, followed by teaching with the least impact on clinical roles.
The study concludes that psychological symptoms following a disaster are common, but in a retrospective survey most people report that these improve with time. A minority however, continue to report difficulties which persist even 18 months post disaster. It also gives insights into how different work roles were impacted and from this makes suggestions for how organisations can support staff over difficult times.
 
References: NZMJ 19 February 2016, Vol 129 No 1430