A Study of the Psychological Consequences of Flooding Based on Health Insurance Databases in the Gard Department. September 2002
From September 8 to 10, 2002, the Gard region experienced severe flooding, leaving many people affected. An assessment of the psychological consequences of these floods was conducted by analyzing data on reimbursements for psychotropic medications (anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants) collected by the national health insurance system. The severity of symptoms was assessed based on the use of antidepressants and the duration of anxiolytic treatments. An increase in the number of psychotropic prescriptions, particularly for new treatments, was observed mainly during the first three weeks following the floods. In terms of immediate psychological care, individuals over 50 years of age appeared to be more vulnerable, particularly those aged 80 and older. The use of antidepressant treatment following treatment with anxiolytics or hypnotics in the aftermath of the floods was particularly common among women of working age and men aged 60 to 69. The study shows that health insurance data can be used to study the impact of a natural disaster. However, significant work on methodologies is still needed for future studies (R.A.)
Author(s): Six C
Publishing year: 2008
Pages: 23 p.
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