Earthquake-related psychological distress and associated factors 4 years after the Parnitha earthquake in Greece

Abstract

Exposure to earthquakes has been associated with psychological distress and in particular the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Earthquake-related psychological distress can be longstanding. The present study involved 157 Greek survivors of the 1999 Parnitha earthquake assessed approximately 4 years after the earthquake. Assessments were based on the Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist (TSSC). Using stringent calibrations for the estimation of symptom presence 25% of the survivors endorsed at least 5 and 12% at least 10 TSSC symptoms. Approximately 22% of the survivors reported subjective distress and 15% impaired adjustment due to their symptoms. Intensity of fear during the earthquake and participation in rescue operations related to greater post-earthquake psychological distress. The results suggest that the psychological consequences of earthquakes can be serious and long-standing even when the magnitude of the earthquake is moderate. Psychological treatments that have been proven to reduce fear and PTSD symptoms need to be made available to the survivors. Such treatments may also increase the survivors' psychological preparedness and emotional resilience in view of future earthquakes.

Trauma and Natural Disaster: The Case of Earthquakes in Greece

“…Following this natural disaster, earthquakes occurred in the towns of Kalamata in 1986 and Aegion in 1995, and the most recent earthquake occurred in Athens in 1999. Ten epidemiological studies were carried out using specific research methodologies and standardized instruments and questionnaires to explore the psychological=psychiatric consequences of these natural disasters on exposed populations (Trichopoulos et al, 1983;Mantonakis et al, 1990;Bergiannaki et al, 1990;Papadatos et al, 1990;Soldatos et al, 1989;Bergiannaki et al, 2003;Livanou et al, 2005;Kolaitis et al, 2003;Roussos et al, 2005;Groome & Soureti, 2004;Giannopoulo et al, 2006).…”

“…All scientific publications related to the epidemiology of mental disorders as a result of earthquakes in Greece were reviewed (Trichopoulos et al, 1983;Mantonakis et al, 1990;Bergiannaki et al, 1990;Papadatos et al, 1990;Soldatos et al, 1989;Bergiannaki et al, 2003;Livanou et al, 2005;Kolaitis et al, 2003;Roussos et al, 2005;Groome & Soureti, 2004;Giannopoulou et al, 2006). Trauma and Natural Disaster 139 The review included the recording of specific parameters such as the intensity, year, and location of the earthquake, including the death toll; the author(s) of the research; the instruments and sampling used; and the major findings.…”

Social network disruption as a major factor associated with psychological distress 3 years after the 2004 Niigata–Chuetsu earthquake in Japan

“…Studies in Turkey and Greece showed that the prevalence of psychological distress was still high in victims 3-4 years after the respective earthquakes [4,5]. In the case of the Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake, such long-standing effects are also expected to be present among the residents of Kawaguchi Town.…”

Resilience indicators: opportunities for including distributive justice concerns in disaster management

“…In the context of disaster management, resilience is most often studied at the community level (Ainuddin & Routray, 2012;Chen, Ferng, Wang, Wu, & Wang, 2008;Cutter, Ash, & Emrich, 2014;Felsenstein & Lichter, 2014;Frazier, Thompson, Dezzani, & Butsick, 2013;Kafle, 2012). In the context of disasters, individual resilience is the second most prevalent level of analysis and the one most often studied in the medical and psychological literature (cf., Chang & Taormina 2011;Eisenman et al, 2014;Livanou et al, 2005;Rodriguez-Llanes, Vos, & Guha-Sapir, 2013;Van der Velden, Wong, Boshuizen, & Grievink, 2013).…”