Table 1 Mental health outcomes among individuals affected by the GEJE (excluding Fukushima)

Yokoyama et al. [13]

Residents (Iwate)

6 and 11 months

42.6 %, K6 ≥ 5

Severe financial problems, displacement, lack of network

Niitsu et al. [12]

Residents (Iwate)

11 months

48 %, K6 ≥ 5

Female, middle-to-low educational status, unemployment

Koyama et al. [10]

Residents (Miyagi)

11 and 12 months

35.9 %, K6 ≥ 13

No social support, lower annual income, cohabitating with ≥6 people

Nagata et al. [11]

Residents of temporary housings (Iwate)

10–12 and 19–21 months

No significance in K6 ≥5 between two time points (37.5 %, 10–12 months vs. 43.5 %, 19–21 months). Sense of isolation higher at 19–21 months

Sugimoto et al. [14]

National sample

12 months

No significance in K6 ≥13 between certified vs. non-certified groups for house damage (8.4 vs. 9 %)

Lack of support from family, friends and neighbors

Fujihara et al. [15]

Diabetic patients (Ibaraki)

3 months pre- and post-disaster

Worsening of glycemic control was associated with total GHQ scores, interruption of drug regimen, somatic symptoms, and sleep disturbances/anxiety

Inoue et al. [17]

Household of tsunami-affected houses (Miyagi)

7–12 months

Social isolation

Men <65 years and living alone, low income

Funayama et al. [16]

Psychiatric outpatients (Tochigi)

2 months

4.1 % worsened and 1.2 % improved in GAF score

GAF score >50

Saito et al. [18]

Psychiatric in/outpatients (Tokyo)

1 week

3.5 % worsening of psychiatric symptoms (increase in epileptic seizure or GAF score)

Aoki et al. [19]

Psychiatric patients on mandatory admission (Tokyo)

6 months pre- and post-disaster

Increased admission cases post-disaster (n = 127) compared to pre-disaster (n = 97)

Schizophrenia

Kato et al. 20]

Psychiatric inpatients with suicide attempt (Kanagawa)

6–1 months before and 1–6 months post-disaster

The number of admitted patients on ventilator was higher after the earthquake (Pre, n = 87 vs. post, n = 123)

Jobless, family psychiatric history, precipitating attempt, and alcohol intake

Orui et al. [23]

National government statistics report (Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima)

24 months pre- and post-disaster

Suicide rates in men decreased during the post-disaster period; rates in women increased in the first 7 months

Momma et al. [22]

Small and medium enterprise employees (Miyagi)

7 months pre- and 5 months post-disaster

14.3 % (men), IES-R ≥ 25 (5 months post-disaster)

24.4 % (women), IES-R ≥ 25 (5 months post-disaster)

Male: weak bilateral leg extension power, daily drinking habits, and depressive symptoms

Female: hypertension and depressive symptoms

Takeda et al. [24, 25]

Female high school students (Miyagi)

9 months

10 %, IES-R ≥25

Associated with premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder severity

Iwadare et al. [21]

Junior high school student (Miyagi)

8 and 20 months

Shorter sleep duration and later bedtime at 20 months

Bereavement experience

Usami et al. [36, 37]

Children, 4–15 years (Miyagi)

8 and 20 months

42.6 %, PTSSC-15 ≥ 23 at 8 months

Evacuation, house damage and/or separation from family, female, and not having breakfast

Kuwabara et al. [26]

Children, 6–15 years (Miyagi)

6 months

Students from junior high schools with mortality rate ≥4 % had higher PTSSC-15 scores

Numata et al. [31]

PTSD outpatients (Miyagi)

Unspecified

2.5 g of saikokeishikankyoto powder 3 times a day for 2 weeks improved IES-R score

Tuerk et al. [35]

Residents (Ibaraki)

40 days post-event

27 %, self-reported PTSD symptoms

Subjective health and loss of sense of community

Niitsu et al. [29]

College students (USA)

12–14 months

Japanese students (n = 17) reported higher hyper-arousal than did non-Japanese students (n = 13)

Media exposure

Sekiguchi et al. [32]

Non-PTSD residents (Miyagi)

Pre-disaster, 3–4 months post-disaster

Regional volume changes in the brain observed after the disaster

Smaller GMV in the ACC before the earthquake, decreased GMV in the OFC through the earthquake

Sekiguchi et al. [33]

Non-PTSD residents (Miyagi)

Pre-disaster and 3–4 months post-disaster

Post-disaster anxiety level associated with cerebral structure changes

Lower FA in the right anterior cingulum, increased FA in the left anterior cingulum and uncinated fasciculus

Matsubara et al. [27]

Survivors remained at damaged residences (Miyagi)

1–4 months

8.1 %, depressive reaction (PHQ-2)

House flooding below or above the ground floor, unavailability of gas supply, female, middle aged or elderly, regular intake of psychotropic medicine(s) since before the tsunami, no cohabitant

Nishigori et al. [30]

Postpartum women (Miyagi)

1 month pre- and 7 months post-disaster

20 %, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ≥9

Maternal age of under 25 years, child’s birth weight under 2.5 kg

Matsumoto et al. [28]

Residents (Miyagi)

7–12 months

15 %, Sleep disturbance measured by an original scale

Lack of pleasure in life, lack of interaction with neighbors

Sugiura et al. [34]

Food delivery users (Tokyo and Osaka)

2 months pre- and 1 months post-disaster

Insomnia (original scale), post- vs. pre-disaster odds ratio; Tokyo, 2.0, Osaka, 1.6