Survivors May Suffer from Acute Stress Disorder

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A large percentage of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and its catastrophic aftermath will suffer from Acute Stress Disorder, according to Nancy J. Smyth, Ph.D., LCSW, a University at Buffalo expert on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"I don't expect widespread PTSD after an event like this, but it's normal for people to have a range of emotional reactions to an event like this, and some of those symptoms will be symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder, which is the disorder that precedes PTSD," says Smyth, dean of the UB School of Social Work.

According to Smyth, survivors' physical needs usually take precedence after a traumatic event, and often times the full weight of the emotional and psychiatric reaction doesn't come into play until after the physiological needs have been addressed.

"Most of the people who go through something like this will have strong emotional reactions to the experience," Smyth explains. "However, about 15-30 percent will experience Acute Stress Disorder, and only some of those people will have symptoms long enough to qualify for PTSD. There may be others who don't get PTSD symptoms until later...months or years."

Nancy J. Smyth, Ph.D.,
LCSW, Dean
University at Buffalo
School of Social Work
njsmyth@buffalo.edu