POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, LOSS, AND IMMUNE FUNCTION AFTER HURRICANE-ANDREW

Objective: To examine the impact of and relationship between exposure to Hurricane Andrew, a severe stressor, posttraumatic stress symptoms and immune measures. Methods: Blood draws and questionnaires were take n from community volunteer subjects living in the damaged neighborhood s between 1 and 4 months after the Hurricane. Results: The sample exhi bited high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms by questionnaire (3 3% overall; 76% with at least one symptom cluster), and 44% scored in the high impact range on the impact of Events (IES) scale. A substanti al proportion of variance in posttraumatic stress symptoms could be ac counted for by four hurricane experience variables (damage, loss, life threat, and injury), with perceived loss being the highest correlate. Of the five immune measures studied Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity (NKCC) was the only measure that was meaningfully related (negatively) to both damage and psychological variables (loss, intrusive thoughts, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). White blood cell counts (WB Cs) were significantly positively related with the degree of loss and PTSD experienced. Both NKCC (lower) and WBC were significantly related to retrospective self-reported increase of somatic symptoms after the hurricane. Overall, the community sample was significantly lower in N KCC, CD4 and CD8 number, and higher in NK cell number compared to labo ratory controls. Finally, evidence was found for new onset of sleep pr oblems as a mediator of the post-traumatic symptom - NKCC relationship . Conclusions: Several immune measures differed hem controls after Hur ricane Andrew. Negative (intrusive) thoughts and PTSD were related to lower NKCC. Loss was a key correlate of both posttraumatic symptoms an d immune (NKCC, WBC) measures.