Challenges of Treating

Challenges of Treating Trauma Victims Enumerated Children who survived the earthquake that devastated the city of Bam on December 26, 2003, are seen in the picture. (IRNA File Photo) An aid worker said incorrect perception of religious beliefs prevents treatment of patients suffering from trauma linked to natural disasters. Farhad Sharafpour, also a paramedic, told Iran DailyÕs Azam Mohebbi that inspiring false religious beliefs such as attributing earthquake to GodÕs wrath harms treatment of quake-hit people. He stressed that mental disorders cannot be easily treated. ÒIn mental diseases, including depression, the patient is unaware of his illness. This is because mental diseases are rooted in the human subconscious,Ó he said. Sharafpour pointed out that after experiencing trauma, the patient goes in a state of disbelief by denying what has happened to him. ÒSevere depression follows the state of disbelief. It is at this stage that everything becomes meaningless and the person loses interest in life,Ó he added. The paramedic also said the difficulty in decision-making, forgetfulness, quarreling, worrying about recurrence of an incident and getting angry with others are the most important characteristics of the depression stage. ÒAfter the depression stage, the more a person enjoys mental and physical support of others, the more likely he will be to adapt himself with the real life,Ó he said. He noted that these psychological stages last between one to two years. ÒOf course, personality differences and peopleÕs compliance with the environment play an important role during these stages. In some people, such trauma is the beginning of a psychic disease that demands clinical treatments,Ó he said. Sharafpour enumerated other parameters that threaten survivors of natural disasters as unscientific and traditional methods that not only do not improve the mental conditions of affected people, but also delay their treatment. ÒFor instance, these people are told that they should avoid weeping or small boys are told that they are grown-up men and men should not cry,Ó he said. Noting that children and young adults are more exposed to mental risks, the expert noted that results of two separate surveys in Turkey (1978) and Italy (1984) showed that for many years children below four years had experienced similar psychological problems after a tragic incident. Sharafpour recommended that families should adopt affected children in order to prevent further social ills. ÒIranian Red Crescent Society has tried to pave the way for exchanging experiences among different countries by holding workshops and conferences,Ó he said. Sharafpour noted that since Iran is exposed to many natural disasters, there is a need for establishing nongovernmental institutions comprising psychologists and relief workers.