A Prairie View A&M University assistant professor has been conducting research focusing on adjustment after natural disasters. One study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests depressive symptoms may lead to higher future symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “We knew already before conducting this study that after a natural disaster, people may experience symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad and losing interest, or PTSD, such as having repeated unwanted thoughts about the event, being super alert, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping. But we really didn’t know how these two symptoms interact together,” said Dr. Yuki Shigemoto, assistant professor of psychology at PVAMU’s College of Juvenile Justice . “In other words, does depression lead to increased PTSD in the future, or do the PTSD symptoms lead to higher depression, or do they interact simultaneously?”
