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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Maria Livanou ,
Yiannis Kasvikis ,
Metin Başoğlu ,
Pashalia Mytskidou ,
Vivi Sotiropoulou ,
Efrosyni Spanea ,
Titika Mitsopoulou  and
Nikoletta Voutsa
Maria Livanou*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Section of Trauma Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, 38, Carver Road, LondonSE24 9LT, UK
Yiannis Kasvikis
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
Metin Başoğlu
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Section of Trauma Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, 38, Carver Road, LondonSE24 9LT, UK
Pashalia Mytskidou
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
Vivi Sotiropoulou
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
Efrosyni Spanea
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
Titika Mitsopoulou
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
Nikoletta Voutsa
Affiliation:
Behaviour Therapy Unit, Centre of Mental Health, Vassileos Irakleiou 8, Athens, Greece
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (M. Livanou).
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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.

Keywords

EarthquakeDisasterPTSDDepressionGreece
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 137 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier SAS 2005

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