Psychological consequences of the 1998 landslide in Sarno, Italy: a community study.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasizes the negative impact of a natural catastrophic event on mental health, and the need for preventive interventions.
Catapano
F
F
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Largo Madonna della Grazie, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Malafronte
R
R
Lepre
F
F
Cozzolino
P
P
Arnone
R
R
Lorenzo
E
E
Tartaglia
G
G
Starace
F
F
Magliano
L
L
Maj
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires