Abstract

The years-long pandemic of Covid-19 is expected to continue to affect many parts of the world as a disaster. Professionals working in infectious disease control will also have to serve as disaster relief workers, and there is concern that adverse health effects would occur. The author, a psychiatrist, reported on the course of a case in which a disaster relief worker who responded to the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and nuclear power plant accident in 2011 was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after spending three years in an overloaded state. Based on this experience, the author pointed out the importance of recognizing PTSD and avoiding the normal practice of disaster relief workers continuing to be active in an uplifted state of mind.

Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic; Disaster relief worker; The Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE); The nuclear accident; Fukushima; Bipolar disorder; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)