The course of chronic and delayed onset of mental illness and the risk for suicidal ideation after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011: A community-based longitudinal study

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2019-03, Vol.273, p.171-177
• Main Authors: Morishima, Ryo, Ando, Shuntaro, Araki, Tsuyoshi, Usami, Satoshi, Kanehara, Akiko, Tanaka, Shintaro, Kasai, Kiyoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Earthquakes; Employment - psychology; Female; Great East Japan Earthquake; Health Status; Housing - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental illness course; Middle Aged; Natural disaster; Risk factor; Risk Factors; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.151

•This study revealed the mental illness courses after a huge natural disaster.•More than 20% of the participants suffered from a mental illness.•About half of any mental illness course were classified to chronic or delaysed onset.•Mental, employment and house problems were risk of chronic and delayed-onset courses.•Risk of suicidality was especially high in chronic or delayed-onset courses. This study investigated how the course of a mental illness is distributed and evaluated the risk factors and suicidality of chronic and delayed onset mental illness after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The first, second, and third waves of this study were conducted in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and socio-demographics were assessed by a self-report questionnaire for affected residents (N = 1473; 768 females, 52.1%; average age = 66.3 years, ranged from 20 to 89 years). Prevalence of mental illness was 10.0%, 14.7%, and 11.8% in the first, second, and third waves, respectively. Prevalence of mental illness for three years was found to be 21.4% and of remission, chronic, and delayed-onset course was 5.0% (2.9–7.1%), 3.6% (1.6–5.8%), and 6.2% (4.2–8.4%), respectively. Psychological distress and serious damage to their homes in the first wave predicted chronic course. Psychological distress in the first wave, living at temporary housing, and unemployment in the third wave increased risk for delayed onset. Among the participants, 9.8% reported suicidal ideation. Chronic or delayed onset course showed a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Many residents, who showed high risk of suicidality, still suffer from mental illness requiring housing, occupation, and psychological support.