Assistant psychology professor Tom Davis surveyed more than 1,000 LSU and New Orleans-area college students about their levels of trauma and depression following Hurricane Katrina. “There was a lot of research about individuals in the community who had to leave the area, but no one was focusing on how the college students were doing, and I felt that was an issue that needed to be addressed,” said Davis, who is also the director of LSU’s new Anxiety Disorders Clinic. Davis collaborated with University of Houston psychology assistant professor Amie Grills for the research project. Davis and Grills performed preliminary research and developed questions for the survey together. The survey included questions about worry, fear, coping, symptoms of anxiety and depression and standard demographic questions about age, race and gender. The survey also included questions about alcohol consumption the day of the hurricane. While 62 percent of the students reported that they drank roughly 1.5 alcoholic drinks during the hurricane, 38 percent said they didn’t drink alcohol. “We also asked questions about quality of life which is a person’s subjective understanding on how well they’re doing,” said Davis. “I may tell you my clinical opinion of how you’re doing, but questions about quality of life lets you tell me how you think you’re doing.” After the surveys were complete, the project titled “LSU-UH Hurricane Katrina Study” focused on two smaller groups of students. The researchers compared a group of 68 LSU students who were enrolled at the University prior to Hurricane Katrina to a group of 68 New Orleans-area students who were displaced to the University because of the hurricane. Davis said the displaced students experienced more symptoms of mild depression than the non-displaced group of LSU students. “Part of what we’re finding is increased symptoms of depression are associated with displaced students experiencing more trauma,” Davis said. Davis said symptoms of mild depression include increased sadness, loss of interest in hobbies, changes in sleep patterns as well as weight loss or gain. Davis said 30 to 50 percent of people who experience trauma are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He said symptoms of this disorder include avoiding cues that trigger thoughts about previous trauma as well as “re-experiencing,” which includes flashbacks and intrusive thoughts. “There was a lot that went on with the hurricane, but we saw mostly mild symptoms,” Davis said. “Overall, the results suggest that the students were adjusting pretty well, especially given the magnitude of their exposure [to trauma].”
_____Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]