More Gulf Coast Residents Have Suicidal Thoughts, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Survey Finds

An increased number of Gulf Coast residents have experienced suicidal thoughts or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as the recovery from Hurricane Katrina continues, according to the preliminary results of a new survey, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.

For the survey, Ronald Kessler, lead researcher for the Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group at Harvard Medical School, and colleagues interviewed about 800 of 1,000 Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama residents who responded to a similar survey conducted about six months after the hurricane, which occurred on Aug. 29, 2005. The latest survey, funded by NIH, found that about 6% of respondents reported suicidal thoughts, compared with about 3% previously. In addition, the survey found that 21% of respondents reported symptoms of PTSD, compared with 16% previously.

Kessler said that a general optimism in the months after the hurricane protected many Gulf Coast residents from suicidal thoughts. However, he said that optimism among Gulf Coast residents has decreased because the recovery from the hurricane has not met expectations (McConnaughey, AP/Los Angeles Times, 8/21). Researchers last week released the preliminary results of the survey to USA Today (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/16).

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