Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Reactions Among Children and Adolescents After the 1999 Earthquake in Ano Liosia, Greece

Abstract

This study demonstrated the feasibility of conducting large-scale school-based postdisaster mental health screening for planning intervention strategies. The present findings regarding PTSD and depression indicate the need to provide targeted specialized postdisaster mental health services to subgroups with significant levels of posttraumatic stress and depressive reactions after an earthquake of moderate intensity.

Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among child survivors 1 year following the Wenchuan earthquake in China

“…Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often considered as the most frequently reported adverse psychological sequelae among child and adolescent earthquake survivors [2][3][4][5][6]. For example, Giannopoulou et al [7] found that the prevalence rate of PTSD 6-7 months after the 1999 Athens earthquake was 35.7 % among youths aged 9-17 years.…”

“…Even more important than objective elements of traumatic events were individual's subjective experiences (e.g., the perception of threat and fear) in determining posttraumatic response [32]. For example, Roussos et al [5] examined the impact of both objective and subjective factors on PTSD symptoms of schoolchildren, and found that perceived threat to safety explained more variance in PTSD symptoms than objective measures of trauma severity, such as injury, the severity of house damage, or proximity to the epicenter.…”

Psychotraumatology in Greece

“…The 1999 Athens earthquake is the most studied natural disaster in Greece in terms of the psychosocial effects on children, adolescents and adults (Giannopoulou et al, 2006; Goenjian et al, 2011; Groom & Soureti, 2004; Kolaitis et al, 2003; Roussos et al, 2005). This was a 5.9 Richter earthquake followed by 4000 aftershocks, had its epicentre in the north-western outskirts of Athens and was the most devastating in last 50 years, as it resulted in 143 deaths, more than 400 injuries and damage to 74,067 households.…”

Mental Health Problems among Undergraduates in Fukushima, Tokyo, and Kyoto after the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake

“…Ekşi et al (2007) reported that 60% of children and adolescents met PTSD criteria, and 31% had major depression following the earthquake in Turkey (Ekşi et al 2007). Several other studies conducted in China (Liu et al 2011), Armenia , and Greece (Groome and Soureti 2004;Roussos et al 2005) have similarly reported high anxiety and depression among adolescents who were exposed to earthquakes.…”