Differential diagnosis of memory impairment in areas affected by a natural disaster: a case report

We treated a man with a chief complaint of memory impairment after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Initially, he was diagnosed with dementia. However, after several tests, neither could a definitive diagnosis of dementia be reached, nor was there any apparent evidence for depression, epilepsy, delirium, or internal medicine diseases. During the earthquake, the patient experienced the severe trauma of watching his wife being swept away by a tsunami. Furthermore, he experienced separation from his family. Because of this traumatic experience, we suspected that dissociative disorder was involved in the development of the memory impairment and thus, we switched to treatments focusing on emotional support. Subsequently, the patient's memory impairment gradually improved. The present case demonstrates the importance of considering dissociative disorders when examining a patient with memory impairment in areas affected by disasters

Hospital Staff Shortage after the 2011 Triple Disaster in Fukushima, Japan-An Earthquake, Tsunamis, and Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Case of the Soso District

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>In 2011, Fukushima was struck by a triple disaster: an earthquake, tsunamis, and a nuclear accident. In the aftermath, there was much fear among hospital staff members about radiation exposure and many staff members failed to report to work.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>One objective is to measure this shortage in hospital staff and another is to compare the difference in recovery by hospital types and by categories of hospital staff.</p><p>Design</p><p>The monthly records of the number of staff members from May 2011 to September 2012 were extracted anonymously from the records of 7 local hospitals in the Soso district in Fukushima. Change in the number of staff was analyzed.</p><p>Results</p><p>Staff shortages at hospitals reached a maximum within one month after the disaster (47% reported to work). The shortage of clerks was the most severe (38% reported to work), followed by nurses (48% reported to work). The shortages remained even 18 months after the disaster.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>After a disaster in which the damage to hospital functions surpasses the structural damage, massive support of human resources in the acute phase and a smaller volume of support in the mid-term phase appear to be required, particularly for non-medical staff.</p></div

The % change in the number of hospital staff members working in the Soso district during the 18 months after the triple disaster.

<p>The % change in the number of hospital staff members working in the Soso district during the 18 months after the triple disaster.</p

The % change in the number of hospital staff members at each hospital within 18 months after the triple disaster.

<p>The % change in the number of hospital staff members at each hospital within 18 months after the triple disaster.</p

The % change in the estimated workload of staff members.

<p>The numbers of outpatients (A) and inpatients (B) were divided by the number of staff members.</p

Characteristics of and number of staff members at Soso district hospitals (Source from Soso Public Health Institute).

<p>Characteristics of and number of staff members at Soso district hospitals (Source from Soso Public Health Institute).</p