Psychological Responses among Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster Victims and Their Families.
- Author:
Seonyoung YOO
1
;
Minyoung SIM
;
Jungwon CHOI
;
Kyoungsun JEON
;
Jungha SHIN
;
Seockhoon CHUNG
;
Sang Bum HONG
;
So Yeon LEE
;
Soo Jong HONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords: Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster; Humidifier Disinfectant-associated Lung Injury; Victims and Families; Psychological Response; Toxic Chemical Substances
- MeSH: Compensation and Redress; Counseling; Depression; Disaster Victims*; Disasters*; Humans; Humidifiers*; Mental Health; Retrospective Studies; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science 2019;34(4):e29-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: To substantiate psychological symptoms following humidifier disinfectant (HD) disasters, counseling records of 26 victims and 92 family members of victims (45 were bereaved) were analyzed retrospectively. Among the victims, 34.6% had Clinical Global Impression-Severity scores of over 4, which meant they were moderately ill. While anxiety/fear and depression with respiratory symptoms were frequently observed in victims and family members, chronic psychological distress such as alcohol/smoking abuse and insomnia was relatively high in bereaved family members. In conclusion, it is important to provide mental health support for victims and their families, focusing on the characteristic symptoms of each group as well as monetary compensation.
