Papers by Bhushan Guragain
Journal of Traumatic Stress
Postdisaster daily stressors, the economic and social challenges caused or exacerbated by disaste... more Postdisaster daily stressors, the economic and social challenges caused or exacerbated by disasters, have significant consequences for mental health but are rarely investigated in child and adolescent populations. We assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety among adolescents affected by disasters in China and Nepal and examined the specific contributions of disaster‐related trauma exposure and daily stressors across mental health outcomes. A school‐based, cross‐sectional study was conducted with a stratified random sampling design. Adolescents living in disaster‐affected areas of southern China and Nepal (N = 4,215, 52.7% female, age range: 15–19 years) completed translated, validated measures. Mixed effects logistic regression analyses were conducted using a priori risk factors. PTSS were reported by 22.7% of participants and were higher among Nepali adolescents but did not differ between genders. Depressive symptoms were reported by 45.2% of the sampl...
International Journal of Public Health, 2022
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Addressing the psychological mechanisms and structural inequalities that underpin mental health i... more Addressing the psychological mechanisms and structural inequalities that underpin mental health issues is critical to recovery following disasters and pandemics. The Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network was established in June 2020 in response to the current disaster climate and to foster advancements in disaster-oriented mental health research, practice and policy across the region. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) Thematic Platform for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM), the network brings together leading disaster psychiatry, psychology and public health experts. Our aim is to advance policy, research and targeted translation of the evidence so that communities are better informed in preparation and response to disasters, pandemics and mass trauma. The first meetings of the network resulted in the development of a regional disaster mental health agenda focused on the current context, with five priority areas: (1) Strengthening commu...
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021
BMC Psychiatry, 2021
Background Traumatic stress is a global mental health problem requiring novel, easily implemented... more Background Traumatic stress is a global mental health problem requiring novel, easily implemented treatment solutions. We compared the effectiveness and efficiency of Reconsolidation Therapy (RT) to the well-established antidepressant paroxetine, in reducing symptoms of traumatic stress among patients from Nepal, a low-income country. Methods Forty-six adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomized to one of two groups. The reconsolidation blocker propranolol was administered 90 min before briefly recalling a traumatic memory with a therapist, weekly for six consecutive weeks. This was compared to daily paroxetine for 26 weeks. Self-reported PTSD symptoms were assessed blindly at the 7th, 13th, and 26th weeks. Results An intent-to-treat analysis revealed a robust pre- to post-treatment main effect (β1 = − 4.83, 95% CI = [− 5.66, − 4.01], p < .001), whereby both groups improved, with Cohen’s effect sizes of d = 2.34 (95% CI = [1.57, 3.12]) for paroxetine, and of ...
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, May 1, 2019
Transcultural Psychiatry, 2019
Adolescents are disproportionately represented in nations vulnerable to humanitarian crises. The ... more Adolescents are disproportionately represented in nations vulnerable to humanitarian crises. The mental health effects of exposure to trauma are significant, but evidence concerning the experience of disaster-affected adolescents in Asia is limited. The current study aimed to investigate expressions of psychological distress and behavioral effects of exposure to natural disasters among adolescents in China and Nepal. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with adolescents, caregivers, teachers and experts in disaster-affected districts of Yunnan Province, China (n = 79), and Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (n = 62). Open coding and thematic content analysis were employed to examine themes within the data. Indicators of distress were categorized in four domains that reflected expressions of anxiety and stress, mood difficulties, somatic complaints, and behavioral changes for adolescent disaster survivors. Differential reports of psychological concerns by gender w...
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2018
Intervention, 2017
This ¢eld report from Nepal highlights the importance of mental health and psychosocial support i... more This ¢eld report from Nepal highlights the importance of mental health and psychosocial support in ensuring justice for survivors of sexual violence and abuse. It solidi¢es how psychosocial support can help to improve the low rate of reporting of sexual violence and lead to higher rates ofconvictions of perpetrators. The Centre for Victims of Torture Nepal has supported more than 150 survivors of torture, con£ict and rape to receive justice in the courts through a holistic approach with mental health and psychosocial support at its core.The organisation is presently pursuing four new cases of child sexual abuse, occurring after the 25 April 2015 earthquake, with a similar approach. Challenges remain in providing justice to survivors of violence, but supporting the survivors through a mental health and psychosocial support lens helps to mitigate these challenges, as highlighted by this case study.
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Papers by Bhushan Guragain