Stress reactions in disaster victims following the Bijlmermeer plane crash

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 329 - 335
• Main Authors: Carlier, Ingrid V. E., Gersons, Berthold P. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.04.1997; Wiley
• Subjects: Accidents, Aviation; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; aftermath of Bijlmermeer plane crash; Air Transportation; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; disaster victims; Disasters; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Netherlands; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; PTSD; Regression Analysis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Survival - psychology; trauma; Victims; Netherlands; Europe; Human; Airplane; Life events; Posttraumatic syndrome; Prevalence; Accident; Anxiety disorder; Epidemiology; Public health; Stress
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.2490100213

This article examined posttraumatic stress symptoms in a sample of disaster victims following the Bijlmermeer plane crash of October, 1992, in the Netherlands. Findings indicated that six months after the disaster 26% of the respondents were suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The victims' PTSD was strongly associated with material damage and loss. The discussion of the results focuses on the distinction between normal and pathological stress reactions and the implications for disaster after‐care.