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Salud & Sociedad: investigaciones en psicologia de la salud y psicologia social

On-line version ISSN 0718-7475

Abstract

LEIVA-BIANCHI, Marcelo  and  ARANEDA, Andrea. Prevalence and post-traumatic stress symptoms in people who experience an earthquake and tsunami. Salud & Sociedad [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.2, pp. 146-155. ISSN 0718-7475.

Introduction: Previous research indicates an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after earthquakes and tsunamis as the February 27, 2010 (F-27). Objectives: (1) To determine the proportions of people who could present PTSD and each of its types of symptoms, (2) relate the proportions with groups of variables that may favor its appearance, and (3) establish a symptom profile as each group of variables. Method: Using the Short Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (SPRINT-E) and the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), we measured the PTSD intense symptoms in two samples: inhabitants of coast (n=194) and interior (n=94). Results: The PTSD prevalence was 22%, 19 points higher in people that live in coastal area (28%) and 11 points higher among people that suffered severe damage in their home. Discussion: Those who suffer serious house damages or live in a coastal town hit by earthquake and tsunami tend to have more symptoms of re-experiencing, hyper-activation, are sadder, have less care for their health, feel uncomfortable and interfered in their daily activities and they find difficult to solve problems that previously solved without help.

Keywords : Post-Traumatic Stress; Prevalence.

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