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Impact of a foot and mouth disease crisis on post-traumatic stress symptoms in farmers

Psychiatry AMC/De Meren, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam

MAARTEN W. J. KOETER, PhD

Psychiatry AMC/De Meren, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam

E. HELEEN VAN HAAFTEN

Vabene, Research and Training on Sustainable Systems, Wageningen

PAUL H. KERSTEN, MA

Alterra, Research Centre of the Green Environment, Wageningen University, Wageningen

BERTHOLD P. R. GERSONS, MD, PhD

Psychiatry AMC/De Meren, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr Miranda Olff, Center for Psychological Trauma, Psychiatry AMC/De Meren, Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, Tafelbergweg 125, 1105 BC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 566 2356; e-mail: m.olff{at}amc.uva.nl

Declaration of interest None.

ABSTRACT

Summary Culling 27 000 farm animals during an epidemic of foot and mouth disease in The Netherlands in 2001 resulted in substantial psychological distress among Dutch farmers. We investigated the association of exposure to this crisis with symptoms of intrusions and avoidance as found in post-traumatic stress disorder. Survey results from the Impact of Event Scale administered to 661 Dutch dairy farmers showed that about half of those whose animals were culled suffered from severe post-traumatic distress; we conclude that such agricultural crises can have a substantial impact on mental health.

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