This study examined the prevalence of four psychiatric disorders--
posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety
disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence--in survivors of a jet plane crash
into a hotel. Forty-six subjects were interviewed with the Diagnostic
Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement within 4-6 weeks of the event. More
than half of the subjects met criteria for a psychiatric disorder after the
disaster. More than two-thirds of the cases of acute postdisaster
psychiatric disorders were predicted by identifying the subjects who had
predisaster psychiatric histories. Predisaster psychiatric disorder
predicted postdisaster psychopathology with a sensitivity of 72% and a
specificity of 90%.Abstract Teaser