There is evidence of disorder-specific patterns in relation to one’s social connections after disaster, a recent study found. Depression appears to co-occur in linked individuals, whereas posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk is increased with social fragmentation. In a community-based cohort study of survivors of a major bushfire disaster, participants (n=558) were assessed for probable PTSD and probable depression. Researchers found:

• Depression risk was higher for participants who reported fewer social connections, were connected to other depressed people, or were connected to people who had left their community.
• PTSD risk was higher if fewer people reported being connected with the participant, if those who felt close to the participant had higher levels of property loss, or if the participant was linked to others who were themselves not interconnected.
• Interestingly, being connected to other people who in turn were reciprocally close to each other was associated with a lower risk of PTSD.