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'Even hearing about the disease scares survivors'

Sherry Lee

Two years after Sars, the mental trauma continues for survivors. Some have hallucinations. Some have flashbacks of hospital scenes. Many avoid friends, weep and harbour ideas of committing suicide.

'Some have tried to kill themselves by taking medicine, but have been found by their families and taken to hospital,' said psychiatrist Wing Yun-kwok, the founder of a psychiatric clinic for Sars survivors.

Seventy per cent of his patients suffer depression. Others have post-traumatic stress disorder, characterised by intense fear and flashbacks. And many have both.

Dr Wing, a professor of psychiatry at Chinese University, said those with depression were always unhappy, negative and uninterested in life. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder always felt frightened.

'They always have nightmares about their time in hospital, and avoid visiting hospitals. Even hearing about Sars in the news makes them scared,' Dr Wing said.

He cited the case of one health-care worker who had flashbacks of being in hospital and seeing patients dying. Another started hallucinating that her husband was trying to harm her.

Dr Wing said it was especially difficult to treat patients with serious side effects, such as the crippling bone disease avascular necrosis, the result of taking high doses of steroids.

The other obstacle was anger. 'They are very angry. Angry at the government, and at themselves for contracting Sars.'

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