Psychological Responses among Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster Victims and Their Families

Yoo, Seonyoung; Sim, Minyoung; Choi, Jungwon; Jeon, Kyoungsun; Shin, Jungha; Chung, Seockhoon; Hong, Sang-Bum; Lee, So-Yeon; Hong, Soo-Jong

With regard to the severity of psychological distress using the CGI-S, 34.6% of victims were classified into the "slightly bad" group that needed to consider psychiatric treatment. In several studies, the prevalence of PTSD in the first year after human-made/technological disasters has been documented to range between approximately 25 and 75 percent, which is generally higher than that documented in studies after natural disasters. 16 Especially in terms of the aftermath of toxic chemical substance disasters, it has been reported that prolonged psychological symptoms such as anxiety last regardless of the elapse of time. For example, among the 474 people who were exposed to methyl isocyanate gas in India, the frequency of anxiety was 65% and depression 25% even 9 years after the disaster. 13 Similarly, 32% of the Tokyo subway disaster victims exposed to sarin gas experienced PTSD symptoms even after 5 years. 12 The reasons for psychological responses lasting for such long periods after disasters could include hidden exposure and prolonged potential complications including cancer and genetic disorders. 17, 18 Compared to the grief and anger of family members of those who succumbed to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and received similar psychological support from the NCMH in 2015 (81.3% and 51.6%, respectively), the grief and anger of bereaved family members of HD victims were lower. This implies that the psychological responses of the bereaved might be relieved by mourning victims' deaths. The relatively high rates of alcohol/smoking abuse and insomnia among bereaved family members of HD disaster victims imply that the bereaved might be suffering from chronic psychological distress.