title: Psychiatric disorders among emotionally distressed disaster victims attending primary mental health clinics in Ecuador.
abstract: Previous studies in developing countries have demonstrated post-disaster stress disorders in a substantial share of the people living through a natural calamity, but questions have remained as to the severity of these mental health problems. This article reports information derived from a 1987 study of Ecuadorian earthquake victims that shows many of the victims had diagnosable psychiatric disorders and provides insight into the nature of those disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chávez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samaniego
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003906:Developing Countries; D004190:Disasters; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*