[Psychological effects on medical students caused by earthquakes of 1985].
Eight months after the earthquakes of September 1985 in Mexico City, an analysis about the psychological symptoms, commonly associated with traumatic experiences was performed, among a population of 708 students, coursing the first year of Medical School. By means of a questionnaire, they reported the symptoms they had experienced before the earthquakes, during the following two weeks, and at the moment of the survey was still higher symptoms at the moment of the survey was still higher than before the earthquakes, so eight months appear to be an insufficient lapse for the complete remission of new cases. About 15.8 per cent of the studied population reported symptomatology that can be considered as having been triggered by the earthquakes. Another sector of the population (11%), previously symptomatic, reported remission after the earthquakes. The group of students directly affected by severe injuries for deaths of either family members, cohabiting persons, or of persons with whom strong affective ties prevailed, showed a greater tendency to present symptomatic states. Women represented the group most affected psychologically by the earthquakes.
Piña Barba
B
B
Departamento de Epidemiología y Comunidad, Sección de Salud Mental, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Torres Cosme
J L
JL
Prawda Witemberg
M
M
Pérez Reséndiz
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008800:Mexico; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
Efectos psicológicos causados por los sismos de 1985 en estudiantes de medicina.