What is it about?
This study followed over 3,000 disaster survivors in South Korea for four years to understand how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms change over time. We discovered four main recovery paths: some people stayed mostly stable with mild symptoms, some recovered gradually, some had ongoing severe distress, and a few improved quickly after strong early symptoms. We also found that income, resilience, depression, and support from communities made a big difference in which path people followed. These results show that PTSD does not follow one simple pattern, and that both personal strengths and social support matter for long-term recovery.
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Why is it important?
Disasters affect millions worldwide, yet not everyone experiences trauma in the same way. By identifying different PTSD paths, our study shows why “one-size-fits-all” approaches to treatment are not enough. The findings highlight the need for early screening, ongoing monitoring, and community-based support. This research can help policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities design more effective, tailored interventions to prevent long-term suffering and improve recovery after disasters.
Perspectives
As a researcher, I was deeply motivated to conduct this study because I have seen how disaster survivors often struggle silently with psychological wounds that are not immediately visible. Tracking PTSD symptoms over several years allowed me to capture the hidden patterns that short-term studies often miss. What stood out to me most was the “mild but escalating” group, who seemed stable at first but gradually developed more distress. This finding reminded me of the importance of long-term monitoring and culturally sensitive approaches in mental health care. I hope that by sharing these insights, our work can contribute to building disaster response systems that not only provide immediate relief but also ensure sustained psychological support for survivors in the years that follow.
Kyeongwon Lee
Halla University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Identifying PTSD trajectories and associated factors in disaster victims., Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, August 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/tra0002023.
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