Depression in Disasters and Traumatic Events

Abstract

Individuals with experience of natural or nonnatural traumatic events tend to be at a high risk of being faced with depression. This chapter mainly aims to: (1) review the impacts of natural and nonnatural traumatic events on depression; (2) summarize clinical diagnosis and standardized assessment instruments for depression in previous studies; (3) review the consequences and risk factors of depression after natural disasters or traumatic events; and (4) provide coping strategies and suggestions for serving the people experiencing natural disasters or nonnatural traumatic events. This chapter shows that psychological effects of disasters and traumatic events are far-reaching, which may yield negative psychological outcomes in the aftermath (e.g., depression) among survivors experienced these events. Risk factors for depression after disasters and traumatic events include biological and psychosocial aspects, which may vary among different population. Long-term interventions should be developed for persons with depression after disasters and traumatic events.