Prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder and Psychological Impact after Crisis Event AmongInjuried Military Personnel in Mass Violence.

Abstract

Objective :

To study the prevalence of acute stress disorder (ASD) and psychological effect toward the injured military personnel of the mass violence on 10 April 2010.

Method :

Retrospective descriptive study was conducted. One hundred medical records of military personnel who were injured on 10 April 2010 and were admitted in Phramongkutklao hospital to receive the psychological first aid as well as the assessment of acute stress desorder using DSM-IV criteria and Psychological Impact Scale for Crisis Events -18 was performed.

Results :

It was found that 2% of 100 cases haring severe psychological impact and 8% had mild degree. Although the occurrence of ASD was not found. There were 5 cases who had three of ASD symptom clustered such as re-experiencing, avoidance, and arousal (except the dissociation criterion). Moreover, there was no significant factors associated with the psychological impact due to mass violence for serious political conflict occeering at April 10, 2010.

Conclusions :

Although ASD was not found and severe psychological impact was found only 2 % of all the injured in this study, there still need assessment of ASD and psychological distress for detecting people who have a risk of mental disorder and effective early treatment for prevention of further serious mental health problem.