Collision at Sea: The Traumatic Aftereffects
Abstract
The objective of this longitudinal study was to examine the psychological effects of a collision at sea by comparing the subsequent performance and health patterns of the officers and crew of the USS Belknap (N = 336) with those of the USS Yarnell (N = 387) during a 3-year follow-up period. Results showed that there was a significantly greater risk of suffering a psychiatric hospitalization or a separation from service for psychiatric reasons among the officers and men of the disabled Belknap than was observed for members of the Yarnell. Other comparisons revealed no significant differences between the ships on subsequent numbers of promotions, demotions, unauthorized absences, desertions, and noneffective enlistees as well as on several precollision service-related or preentry variables. Within group comparisons showed that the postcollision group with the least favorable prognosis was the uninjured group that was evacuated, returned to the ship, and then flown back to the U.S. Future disaster studies should be designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an early crisis intervention, such as the Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT), in reducing long-term psychological effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA113514
Entities
People
- Anne L. Hoiberg
- Brian G. Mccaughey
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center