Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25860572›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2015

Flooding and mental health: a systematic mapping review.

Ana Fernandez, John Black, Mairwen Jones, Leigh Wilson, Luis Salvador-Carulla, Thomas Astell-Burt, Deborah Black

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 102 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
102citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

102 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Mental Health Impacts of Tornadoes: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
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  15. Distributional justice and climate risk assessment: An analysis of disparities within direct and indirect risk.Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis · 2025
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42 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ana FernandezFaculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
John BlackFaculty of Health Sciences, Ageing Work and Health Unit, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Mairwen JonesFaculty of Health Sciences, Discipline of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Leigh WilsonSchool of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Luis Salvador-CarullaFaculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Thomas Astell-BurtSchool of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Deborah BlackFaculty of Health Sciences, Ageing Work and Health Unit, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFloods are the most common type of global natural disaster. Floods have a negative impact on mental health. Comprehensive evaluation and review of the literature are lacking.

objectiveTo systematically map and review available scientific evidence on mental health impacts of floods caused by extended periods of heavy rain in river catchments.

methodsWe performed a systematic mapping review of published scientific literature in five languages for mixed studies on floods and mental health. PUBMED and Web of Science were searched to identify all relevant articles from 1994 to May 2014 (no restrictions).

resultsThe electronic search strategy identified 1331 potentially relevant papers. Finally, 83 papers met the inclusion criteria. Four broad areas are identified: i) the main mental health disorders-post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety; ii] the factors associated with mental health among those affected by floods; iii) the narratives associated with flooding, which focuses on the long-term impacts of flooding on mental health as a consequence of the secondary stressors; and iv) the management actions identified. The quantitative and qualitative studies have consistent findings. However, very few studies have used mixed methods to quantify the size of the mental health burden as well as exploration of in-depth narratives. Methodological limitations include control of potential confounders and short-term follow up. LIMITATIONS: Floods following extreme events were excluded from our review.

conclusionsAlthough the level of exposure to floods has been systematically associated with mental health problems, the paucity of longitudinal studies and lack of confounding controls precludes strong conclusions. IMPLICATIONS: We recommend that future research in this area include mixed-method studies that are purposefully designed, using more rigorous methods. Studies should also focus on vulnerable groups and include analyses of policy and practical responses.

Indexed as

DisastersFloodsMental HealthAnxietyAustraliaDepressionFemaleGlobal HealthHumansMaleStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticStress, PsychologicalSuicide

Identifiers

PMID25860572
PMCPMC4393088

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.