Journal article

Longitudinal study of changing psychological outcomes following the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires

RA Bryant, L Gibbs, HC Gallagher, P Pattison, D Lusher, C MacDougall, L Harms, K Block, V Sinnott, G Ireton, J Richardson, D Forbes

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry | SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD | Published : 2018

Abstract

Objectives: To map the changing prevalence and predictors of psychological outcomes in affected communities 5 years following the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. Method: Follow-up assessment of longitudinal cohort study in high, medium and non-affected communities in Victoria, Australia. Participants included 1017 respondents (Wave 1) interviewed via telephone and web-based survey between December 2011 and January 2013, and 735 (76.1%) eligible participants were retested between July and November 2014 (Wave 2). The survey included measures of fire-related and subsequent stressful events, probable posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, alcohol use and severe distress. ..

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