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Publisher: Peytchinski, Gospodin Iliev
ISSN: 1312 773X (Online)
Issue: 2015, vol. 21, issue 4
Subject Area: Medicine
Pages: 991-994
DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2015214.991
Published online: 14 December 2015
J of IMAB 2015 Oct-Dec;21(4):991-994
ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC IMPACT OF PIRACY ON SEAFARERS.
Ivan Aleksandrov1, Mariana Arnaudova 1
, Valery Stoyanov2, Veronika Ivanova1, Petar Y. Petrov3
1) Medical University, Varna, University hospital “St. Marina”, Varna, Bulgaria
2) Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, Bulgaria.
3) University hospital “St. Marina”, Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Background: It has been discussed that being held hostage can have harmful short and often long-term physical, psychological, familial and social effects on the victims. This is a complex area of research and the data is sparse yet.
The aim of our study is to present our experience concerning some psychological and psychiatric consequences on Bulgarian seamen victims of pirate's attack long captivity and to suggest a suitable methodology of a psychological investigation in such cases.
Methods: Seven Bulgarian hostage survivors underwent comprehensive psychological and psychiatric assessments twenty days after pirate’s captivity release.
Results and discussion: In general terms, the psychological and psychiatric impact on the victims is similar to that of being exposed to other serious life-threatening events, including terrorist incidents and natural disasters.
All the subjects, who have been examined in our study, reported feelings of detachment and alienation from close others and startle by noises, nightmares and sleep disturbances. Anxiety symptoms, characterized by apprehension, tension and fear in particular situations, and some depressive features (depressive mood, lack of interest and activities, lassitude) on a sub- clinical level were registered.
Conclusion: Despite some limitations our report discusses important issues, concerning psychological and psychiatric consequences on Bulgarian seamen victims of pirate’s attack long captivity and present a suitable model of a psychological investigation in such cases and states the need of supportive care of the victims.
Key words: maritime piracy, seafarers, psychopathology, psychological/mental consequences,
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Please cite this article in PubMed Style or AMA (American Medical Association) Style:
Aleksandrov I, Arnaudova M, Stoyanov V, Ivanova V, Petrov PY. On Psychological and Psychiatric Impact of Piracy on Seafarers. J of IMAB. 2015 Oct-Dec;21(4):991-994.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5272/jimab.2015214.991
Correspondence to: Mariana Arnaudova-Jekova, MD, PhD, Third Psychiatric Clinic, MHAT “St. Marina”; 1, Hristo Smirnenski str, 9010 Varna, Bulgaria; E-mail: marnaudova@hotmail.com
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Received: 26 October 2015
Published online: 14 December 2015