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We thought, given the terrible situation in Haiti, it might be useful to post the results of this classic study of survivors of the great Turkish earthquake of 1999, which points to what makes survivors more vulnerable to PTSD. Subsequent surveys from China, Japan, Italy, El Salvador and Iceland support these findings. , Additional factors appear to be dislocation, subsequent financial difficulties, disruption of social networks, injury, the intensity of fear and/or presence of dissociation at the time of the trauma. Loss of family and friends appear to be more associated with depression rather than posttraumatic stress. Difficulties appear to be fairly longstanding, according to most of these surveys.
Researchers from King's College at the University of London in the UK examined the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in 586 earthquake survivors living in prefabricated housing, an average of 20 months after the 1999 Marmara earthquake in Turkey.
The estimated rates of PTSD and major depression were 39% and 18%, respectively. More severe PTSD symptoms related to greater fear during the earthquake, female gender, older age, participation in rescue work, having been trapped under rubble, and personal history of psychiatric illness.
More severe depression symptoms related to older age, loss of close ones, single marital status, past psychiatric illness, previous trauma experience, female gender, and family history of psychiatric illness.
These findings suggest that catastrophic earthquakes have long-term psychological consequences, particularly for survivors with high levels of trauma exposure. These findings lend further support to the need for long-term mental health care policies for earthquake survivors. Outreach service delivery programs are needed to access non-treatment-seeking survivors with chronic PTSD.
Citation: Salcioglu E, Basoglu M, Livanou M. Long-term psychological outcome for non-treatment-seeking earthquake survivors in Turkey. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders. 2003 Mar;191 (3): pages 154-60.
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