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Coping with disaster trauma : observations from around the worldDisasters have multitude of effects on the victims; as the direct loss and damage during disasters and the indirect consequences continue for years. In the developing world disasters have colossal impact where the resources are scarce, disaster relief systems are inadequate and post-disaster long-term care is abysmally poor. Psychiatric morbidities are observed in a large majority of affected population and these often become chronic. It is imperative to study how the victims cope following the catastrophic disasters, the relation between various coping strategies and manifest morbidities and variations across disasters and cultures. This article reviews the available literature regarding coping following various disasters and summarizes the coping strategies employed by disaster victims around the world. Variations in coping across cultures are highlighted and areas for therapeutic intervention are suggested. These understandings in coping may help in facilitating positive coping and developing culture specific and appropriate intervention programmes.
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Happiness and health : An intricate relationshipHealth and happiness influence each other. However, the relationship is quite complex, as a healthy person may be unhappy, and a seriously ill patient may experience happiness. Physical and mental health, and illness-related variables impact upon happiness, though it may be more pronounced by mental illnesses. Positive emotions, resilience, sex and intimacy, and social connectedness are usually associated with happiness, whereas stress, worry, pain, and depression are not. Happier people probably live longer, and there is excess mortality associated with unhappiness; however, many confounding variables exist. Interestingly, in recent years, biological substrates for happiness have been suggested. Genetics, neurotransmitters, specific areas of the brain, and biomarkers have been identified as being associated with the states of happiness. Achieving and maintaining happiness through health appears to have simple messages of being physically active, maintaining good health, preventing and managing illnesses well, having positive emotions, learning to be resilient against stress, and being generous and spiritual. Studies on health and happiness are building up in recent years, providing more insights into their interrelation. Happiness is being used as an outcome measure in clinical interventional trials and other health research, and there is an enhanced scope for its use in common clinical practice