PTSD in Earthquake Victims

While various studies have examined rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following natural disasters including earthquakes, samples were often non-representative or small or both. A study published in the October issue of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of PTSD and predictors of PTSD 6 months after an earthquake in a rural region of Italy. Using questionnaires, approximately 3,000 people were assessed in the region of Molise in Italy 6 months after an earthquake in October/November 2002. The questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, aspects of the event, the experience of symptoms immediately after the earthquake, and symptoms of PTSD. The results were based on the 2,148 questionnaires that were returned (a response rate of 73.7%). The results from the final analysis1,680 people showed a PTSD prevalence rate of 14.5%. Socio-demographic factors such as male gender, age under 55 years, and better school education predicted lower rates of PTSD but psychological symptoms experienced immediately after the event were also strong predictors. The researchers concluded that findings on predictive variables are consistent with the literature. Although personal characteristics explain only a small part of  PTSD varianc esix months after the event, early psychological distress allows a better prediction of who is likely to have PTSD 6 months later.

Click here for the abstract.