Posttraumatic Symptoms and Change of Complicated Grief among Bereaved Families of the Sewol Ferry Disaster: One Year Follow-up Study

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 34; no. 28; pp. e194 - 13
• Main Authors: Han, Hyesung, Yun, Ji-Ae, Huh, Hyu Jung, Huh, Seung, Hwang, Jihyun, Joo, Ji-Young, Yoon, Young-Ae, Shin, Eun-Gyeong, Choi, Won Joon, Lee, Sangmin, Chae, Jeong-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 22.07.2019; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disasters; Family - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Grief; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - pathology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; 의학일반; Bereavement; Grief; Disasters; Traumatic Loss
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e194

The objective of this study was to determine whether severity and severity change of coexisting psychiatric symptoms might affect change of complicated grief (CG) regarding the Sewol ferry disaster. Data from a cross-sectional survey were obtained 18 months (Time 1) and 30 months (Time 2) after the disaster. We ascertained sociodemographic variables and variables obtained from self-reporting questionnaires (i.e., CG, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], insomnia, embitterment, and suicidal risk) among 56 bereaved family members. Severity of other psychiatric symptoms at Time 1 had no effect on change of CG at Time 2. However, changes in severity of PTSD over a year affected change of CG. It is important to evaluate changes in severity of PTSD and its treatment during management of CG, especially when it involves bereaved families experiencing a traumatic accident.