Stress at the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami : Report from Sendai-Miyagi(Assistance Programs of the Great East Japan Earthquake)

Abstract

After the Tohoku earthquake, the tsunami survivors showed the following prevalence of physical diseases ; functional gastrointestinal disorders and eating disorders 14.3%, tension headache, migraine, and low back pain 14.3%, hypertension 4.8%, hyperventilation 3.2%, the other diseases 12.7%, and no physical diagnosis 50.7%. They also showed the following prevalence of mental diseases ; generalized anxiety disorders or panic disorder 27.0%, post-traumatic stress disorder 12.7%, depressive disorders 25.4%, sleep disorder 4.8%, alcoholic abuse 3.2%, psychosis 3.2%, the other mental disorders, and no mental diagnosis 17.4%. Both physical and mental diseases have weak relationship. The diseases contain more women than men. Moreover, patients with insomnia had more physical and mental diseases than those without insomnia. A systematic and more accurate survey may clarify the role of stress-induced physical and mental diseases. We should analyze the necessity of stress coping program based on recent advances of the brain science.