Okayama prefecture experienced heavy rains in September, 2018. We initiated the Okayama DPAT (Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team) from July 7th to 27th. The Okayama DPAT consisted of the headquarters and a round team. Round teams took turns visiting shelters for counseling and consultation for flood victims, and for supervision of public health nurses and other service providers who were in charge of victims staying in shelters. The number of individuals who received psychiatric assessment was 56, and that of those who were consulted without face-to-face consultation was 40. Eighteen individuals (among 56: 34.0%) exhibited anxiety, which was the top chief complaint among those who received psychiatric consultation. Fifteen individuals (among 56: 28.3%) were diagnosed with adjustment disorder.
The Okayama DPAT faced several problems described below.
1. There is no consensuses regarding the situations in which DPAT should be initiated and in which the assistance of DPAT outside Okayama Prefecture should be requested.
2. Okayama Prefecture has not established plans for psychiatric services in the event of disaster. Psychiatric hospitals are not sufficiently prepared for disasters.
3. The headquarters of the Okayama DPAT was located in Okayama City, distant from the damaged area, Kurashiki City, which made it difficult to access detailed and immediate information of the unmet needs of victims.
4. The information of Okayama DPAT was not effectively transferred to the DPAT Secretariat or the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
5. The headquarters was overwhelmed with information regarding the needs of victims and psychiatric hospitals, which was confusing and sometimes contradictory, hindering effective needs assessment and service provision.
As we will likely face disasters in the future, we should make a plan to solve these problems.
<Author's abstract>
Activities of DPAT(Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team)in Okayama Prefecture after the Western Japan Heavy Rains
Okayama Prefectural Mental Health & Welfare Center
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
122: 378-385, 2020
<Keywords:DPAT, disaster, psychiatry, adjustment disorder, system for receiving outside support>