Objective: This study assessed the traumatic stress symptoms and
related factors in two towns affected by two earthquakes, which killed
20 000 people in 1999 in Turkey.
Method: A total of 430 people in selected households were seen
18 months after the earthquake. They were given a self-report
questionnaire assessing post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and depressive
symptoms, demographics and trauma exposure.
Results: The rates of PTSD and depression were higher in the site
closer to the epicenter. The traumatic stress symptom checklist scores
were predicted by fear during earthquake, loss of friends and
neighbours, female gender, lower education and living in rented
accomodation. Depression was predicted by study site, death of
relatives and past psychiatric illness.
Conclusion: These results show that severe earthquakes can cause
long-lasting morbidity. Our previous findings that showed a
differential prediction for depressive and traumatic stress symptoms
after earthquakes are also supported.