Updated Jan 19, 2010 - 12:14 pm
UW psychologist warns of earthquake's impact
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KIRO Radio
A University of Washington psychologist professor says it's important we think not only about the physical wounds being treated in Haiti, but also the psychological impact of the devastation.
"There is this prolonged agony, in my mind, of hearing people. Family members can hear some of the other ones trapped. In many ways I think it compounds the guilt of not being able to reach these people who are still alive. This is going on hour after hour, day after day," said Professor Randy Kyes.
In early 2005, Kyes traveled to Indonesia to help survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
"Many were children who were having classic kinds of early post traumatic stress disorder symptoms: difficulty sleeping, beginning to wet the bed, stopping talking, or having trouble being around water. Even a bathtub of water would scare them," said Kyes.
Kyes thinks the situation in Haiti is even worse. He concedes that physical wounds are the first priority, but he warns that adults in Haiti are also dealing with overwhelming guilt.
"Equally important is early intervention with the psychological trauma. They almost need to go hand in hand. At this point, it's certainly not to early, and something which hopefully is already being dealt with in the Haiti situation," said Kyes.
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