Aftermath of a disaster: the collapse of the Hyatt Regency Hotel skywalks

Am J Psychiatry. 1983 Sep;140(9):1134-9. doi: 10.1176/ajp.140.9.1134.

Abstract

The author provides data regarding psychiatric symptoms reported by 102 persons who had experienced the collapse of two skywalks in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. Those interviewed were injured victims, guests of the hotel who were not injured, and rescue workers. They were interviewed within 5 months of the disaster. Virtually all of the subjects had psychiatric symptoms; only slight differences were found among those who were victims, observers, or rescuers.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Anger
  • Attitude
  • Disaster Planning
  • Disasters*
  • Female
  • Guilt
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Missouri
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology