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Psychological consequences of the 1998 landslide in Sarno, Italy: a community study
Author(s) -
Catapano F.,
Malafronte R.,
Lepre F.,
Cozzolino P.,
Ar R.,
Lorenzo E.,
Tartaglia G.,
Starace F.,
Magliano L.,
Maj M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00512.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , general health questionnaire , population , landslide , psychological intervention , risk factor , demography , psychiatry , medicine , mental health , environmental health , geotechnical engineering , engineering , sociology
Objective: This community study assessed the prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the psychosocial consequences of the landslide which occurred in Sarno, Southern Italy, in May 1998. Method: A random sample ( n =272) of the population living in the highest risk area of Sarno, and a control group recruited in a small town situated near the disaster area, but not affected by the event, were assessed 1 year after the disaster by standardized instruments. Results: Of the subjects recruited in Sarno, 27.6% met DSM‐IV criteria for PTSD; 59% subjects recruited in Sarno and 35% of the control group were identified as ‘probable cases’ by the GHQ‐30 ( P <0.0001). Subjects recruited in Sarno had significantly higher scores on the four GHQ‐30 subscales identified by factor analysis. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the negative impact of a natural catastrophic event on mental health, and the need for preventive interventions.