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Education

Disaster Psychiatry

Disaster psychiatry examines the psychological and behavioral effects of traumatic events on individuals and populations to inform disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Both military and disaster psychiatry address strategic planning and care demands in non-traditional environments and in mass casualty situations where resources are overwhelmed.

Since 9/11, the Center has been on the forefront of integrating disaster psychiatry into public health planning and workplace preparedness for natural and human-made disasters, especially terrorism and bioterrorism. Center Director, Robert J. Ursano, M.D., served on the Institute of Medicine Committee that authored Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism: A Public Health Strategy. Dr. Ursano educates national leaders on this topic at prestigious forums such as The Carter Center, the Sam Nunn Bank of America Policy Forum, the World Health Organization and other forums. Dr. Ursano’s presentations have been adapted for distance learning initiatives at academic institutions. The School of Public Health, University at Albany features his talk, the Psychological Aspects of Bioterrorism.

The Center also influences policy and practice through involvement in professional organizations. Dr. Ursano was the first Chairman of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster. Under his leadership, the Center played an instrumental role in publishing the first APA Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and developing the APA’s continuing education courses in disaster psychiatry.

The Center works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advancing disaster psychiatry and public health through outreach around natural disasters such as the 2004 Florida Hurricanes and the 2005 Tsunami for which the Center provided educational facts sheets for global health and mental health providers.

Dr. Ursano and the Center also provide their knowledge on disaster psychiatry and workplace preparedness to strengthen the outreach of other public education projects such as U.S. Homeland Security’s Ready Business.