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Limitations of the study and related results from other studies
- krishna mohan Gangineni (10 June 2009)
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krishna mohan Gangineni, Specialist Registar in Psychiatry ABM University NHS Trust
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kgangineni{at}doctors.org.uk krishna mohan Gangineni
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We all are aware the devastation 2004 Tsunami has caused. Its tradionally believed that natural disasters would increase the psychological morbidity and suicide rates. It’s interesting to see from this study that there is no increase in suicide rates during the first year after the Tsunami compared to previous two years. The International Post-Tsunami Study Group examined psychological symptoms experienced by people from the Peraliya area (a district in the southern province of Sri Lanka) 20 to 21 months after the tsunami and found that 21% had PTSD, 16% had severe depression, 30% had severe anxiety and 22% had somatic symptoms (or physical symptoms without an apparent medical explanation). These findings could indicate the higher suicide risk among this group of people. The authors have identified some of the limitations but collecting the data from police records alone during one year post tsunami could lead to false results as numbers of cases reported during period is also questionable. There might be a possibility of different results if this is done for longer period. References: 1)Hollifield, M., Hewage, C., Gunawardena, C.N., Kodituwakku, P., Bopagoda, K., & Weerarathnege, K. (2008). Symptoms and coping in Sri Lanka 20-21 months after the 2004 tsunami. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 192, 39-44. |
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