OBJECTIVES: Victims often complain insomnia and anxiety due to the stress caused by disaster. This study analysed health records of victims who stayed at evacuation shelters in Ishinomaki, Miyagi after the Great East Japan Earthquake for comprehending the actual situation. Ishinomaki is one of areas severely damaged by tsunami.

METHODS: Medical services had been provided until the shelters were closed after six months from the earthquake. We extracted and analysed the data that include insomnia as a diagnostic name from health records in evacuation shelters located in central area of Ishinomaki.

RESULTS: During the six months after the earthquake, 9209 people received medical consultations at 23 shelters. 769 of them were diagnosed as insomnia, of whom 27.8% were male and 72.2% were female. 2 had a history of insomnia and 13 had a history of depression. Patients’ age varied from 2 to 97 years and average and mean ages were 63.2 and 66 respectively. Of 40757 consultations they received for insomnia and others, hypnotic drugs were prescribed 987 times. Multiple medication was only 17 times. Most frequently prescribed medicine was Zolpidem tartrate, followed by Brotizolam and Triazolam.

CONCLUSIONS: Females and the elderly tend to complain insomnia. Although nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics are recommended for the elderly, benzodiazepines were often prescribed.