In 2002, my colleagues and I published an empirical review of the disaster literature that presented results for 160 samples that were coded as to sample type, disaster type, disaster location, outcomes observed, and overall severity of impairment. Here, I present an update of this review, now based on 225 samples and 132 events. Outcomes included PTSD, depression, anxiety, nonspecific distress, and health problems. Regression analyses showed that samples were most likely to be affected severely if they were from developing countries or experienced mass violence (e.g., terrorism, shooting sprees). Most samples of rescue and recovery workers showed remarkable resilience. (Review posted to www.redmh.org March 2005.)

Download Effects of Disasters paper here (PDF document- 823KB)