[Autism after an earthquake: the experience of L'Aquila (Central Italy) as a basis for an operative guideline].
People with autism, their families, and their specialised caregivers are a social group at high health risk after a disruptive earthquake. They need emergency assistance and immediate structured support according to definite protocols and quality standards. We recommend to establish national guidelines for taking-in-charge people with autism after an earthquake. The adaptive behaviour of participants with autism declined dramatically in the first months after the earthquake in all the dimensions examined (i.e., communication, daily living, socialisation, and motor skills). After relatively stable conditions returned and with immediate and intensive post-disaster intervention, children and adolescents with autism showed a trend towards partial recovery of adaptive functioning. As to the impact on services, this study indicates the need for supporting exposed caregivers at high risk of burnout over the first two years after the disaster and for an immediate reorganisation of person-tailored services.
Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.|Centro di riferimento regionale autismo, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila.
Marco
M
Valenti
Centro di riferimento regionale autismo, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila.
Chiara
C
Di Giovanni
Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.
Melania
M
Mariano
Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.
Maria Chiara
MC
Pino
Dipartimento di salute mentale, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila.
Vittorio
V
Sconci
Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.
Monica
M
Mazza
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D000072858:Psychosocial Support Systems; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014495:Universities