Psychiatric disorders among emotionally distressed disaster victims attending primary mental health clinics in Ecuador.
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.
Lima
B R
BR
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Chávez
H
H
Samaniego
N
N
Pai
S
S
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*