---
title: "General Summaries :: Effects"
url: https://redmh.org/research/general/effects
description: "Archived abstract of \"Range, Magnitude, and Duration of the Effects of Disasters on Mental Health: Review Update 2005\" by Fran H. Norris."
---

# General Summaries :: Effects

GENERAL SUMMARYPOSTED MARCH 2005PDF DOCUMENT 823KB, NOT ARCHIVED

Range, Magnitude, and Duration of the Effects of

Disasters on Mental Health: Review Update 2005

Fran H. Norris

Dartmouth Medical School and National Center for PTSD

ABSTRACT

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)