Background:
Increasing evidence indicates that survivors to traumatic events may show disruption of sleep pattern, eating and sexual behaviors, and somatic symptoms suggestive of alterations of biorhythmicity and vegetative functions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate these possible alterations in a sample of survivors in the aftermath of earthquake exposure, with particular attention to gender differences and impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods:
High school senior students, who had been exposed to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, were enrolled 21 months after the traumatic event and evaluated by the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report to investigate PTSD rates and by a domain of the Mood Spectrum Self-Report–Lifetime Version (MOODS-SR), to explore alterations in circadian/seasonal rhythms and vegetative functions.
Results:
The rates of endorsement of MOODS-SR
rhythmicity and vegetative functions
domain and subdomain scores were significantly higher in survivors with PTSD with respect to those without it. Among all earthquake survivors, women reported higher scores than men on the
rhythmicity and vegetative functions
domain and subdomain scores, except for the
rhythmicity
and
sexual functions
ones. Female survivors without PTSD showed significantly higher scores than men in the
rhythmicity and vegetative functions
total scores and the
sleep
and
weight and appetite
subdomains. Potentially traumatic events burden predicted
rhythmicity and vegetative
functions impairment, with a moderation effect of re-experiencing symptoms.
Conclusions:
We report impairments in rhythmicity, sleep, eating, and sexual and somatic health in survivors to a massive earthquake, particularly among subjects with PTSD and higher re-experiencing symptoms, with specific gender-related differences. Evaluating symptoms of impaired rhythmicity and vegetative functions seems essential for a more accurate assessment and clinical management of survivors to a mass trauma.