Table 2 Set inhibitor U0126 of questions used during first and second questionnaire With regard to mental health, somatisation, Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries anxiety, depression, and sleeping disorders as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were investigated. With regard to physical health, the study addressed the use of public health services, changes in life style factors, such as smoking and alcohol use, the consumption of psycho-active drugs, and absenteeism at work or school. Some health outcomes were added during the second phase, namely post-traumatic growth which represents the positive changes in the aftermath of a crisis whereby a cognitive process is initiated to cope with the traumatic event [5] and sense of coherence, which is the ability to comprehend, to manage and to give a meaning to the crisis [6].
Exposure classification of the victims Disaster victims have often been classified by the extend to which they suffered personal injury and sickness, bereavement or property loss [8]. Through the questionnaire, people described their degree of exposure to the disaster. The study population has been classified into 9 categories, based on the individual’s proximity Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries to the disaster. The 9 categories were: Persons injured and hospitalised �� 72 hours. Persons injured and hospitalised < 72 hours. Persons injured but not hospitalised. Persons not injured, but direct witnesses of the explosion as they saw Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries injured or deceased victims. They were present at or nearby the site at the moment of the explosion. Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries Local residents living in the surrounding communities.
They had heard, seen, smelled, felt, and/or experienced the disaster from a distance. Family members Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries or colleagues of deceased or wounded persons. Family members or colleagues of persons who could have been deceased or wounded (for example they were coincidentally not present at that moment). Other persons who could have been on the industrial site, but were not at that moment. Some people were not classified: they were mainly residents exposed to the disaster through the media or they had not been exposed to the disaster in any direct or indirect way (they are not “victims”- they were absent at the moment of the disaster, e.g. on holiday). For reasons of subsequent analyses, the 9 categories were reduced to 3 major exposure groups, following the criteria of proximity to the disaster: Direct witnesses who had seen human damage (SHD).
They were direct ‘active witnesses’ of the explosion, they were present at the epicentre of the disaster.. They are more prone to adverse health consequences due to the witnessing of grotesque scenes at the site and the life treat they have experienced [9]. They include the first four categories. Direct witnesses who had not seen GSK-3 human damage (NSHD). They were direct ‘passive witnesses’ of the explosion.