A psychoepidemiologic approach to the study of disaster

Several researchers have called for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of disaster. In this article, the authors discuss conceptual issues related to stress, distress, and disaster; survey pertinent contributions by reseachers; and provide a rationale for the use of a comprehensive, psychoepidemiologic model of distress as a possible means of systematizing research in the area. A review of the model's components, which include exposure to stressors, vulnerability, and psychological and social resources, is presented. Various ways to implement the model practically and methodologically in disaster research also are discussed.