Posttraumatic stress reactions among children following the Athens earthquake of September 1999

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety among children 6 months after they had been exposed to an earthquake (EQ) affecting the northwestern suburbs of Athens in September 1999. A total of 115 children attending two elementary schools located at the epicentre of the EQ were assessed. A group of 48 children not affected by the EQ attending a school not affected by the EQ were used as controls. The children and their parents completed a number of questionnaires. Overall, there was a high rate (78%) of severe to mild PTSD symptoms in the EQ exposed group. Additionally, a substantial proportion of these children scored above criteria (32%) for depression compared to the control group (12.5%). Severe or moderate symptoms of PTSD were associated with high scores of depression (p = 0.002). The relationship between PTSD symptoms and anxiety was limited to the "avoidance" factor of the anxiety questionnaire (p = 0.029). Those who were most likely to be affected were children alone at the time of the EQ, and children who sustained injuries. In summary, countries where EQs are frequent should be prepared to offer psychological support to a substantial proportion of children presenting with PTSD and depressive symptoms and should educate and prepare children to cope with these events.

Psychotraumatology in Greece

“…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. All studies found high rates of PTSS in the earthquake exposed group 4–6 months following the event compared to indirectly exposed (Giannopoulou et al, 2006) or non-exposed (Kolaitis et al, 2003) groups.…”

“…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.…”

Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety among Adolescents following the 2010 Yushu Earthquake

“…An increasing number of studies have reported PTSD prevalence rates and have identified PTSD risk factors among child survivors of earthquakes [12,13], terrorist attacks [14], hurricanes [15], floods [16], and other general traumatic events other than natural disasters [17]. Although the prevalence rates have varied across the studies, a consistent finding is that female survivors appeared to be at a higher risk of developing PTSD and anxiety than male survivors [13,18,19].…”

“…Although the prevalence rates have varied across the studies, a consistent finding is that female survivors appeared to be at a higher risk of developing PTSD and anxiety than male survivors [13,18,19].…”

The psychosocial impact of two non-destructive earthquakes on pupils in Cephalonia island: a comparison with the Athens earthquake of September 1999

“…There was a high rate (78%) of severe to mild PTSS in the earthquake-exposed group; 32% of these children scored above cut-off for depression symptoms compared to the control group (12.5%). Severe or moderate symptoms of PTSD were related to elevated scores of depression symptoms (Kolaitis et al, 2003). More recently, Cephalonia Island was affected by two earthquakes (26 January and 3 February 2014) with almost the same magnitude (6.0 Richter).…”