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Surviving the Vajont disaster: psychiatric consequences 36 years later
Angela Favaro1, Cristina Zaetta, Giovanni Colombo
1Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|April 20, 2004
Summary
Long-term psychological effects of the Vajont disaster persist. Survivors show high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) decades later, linked to trauma exposure and personal loss.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Disaster Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- The Vajont disaster, a catastrophic event, necessitates understanding its long-term psychological impact on survivors.
- Decades after the event, chronic psychiatric consequences require thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the chronic psychiatric consequences in Vajont disaster survivors 36 years post-event.
- To determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).
- To identify predictors for PTSD and MDD in this survivor cohort.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 39 survivors living in the Vajont valley was assessed.
- Semistructured interviews explored the extent of traumatic experiences.
- Structured diagnostic interviews were used for PTSD and MDD diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Traumatic exposure significantly predicted the presence of PTSD.
- Lifetime prevalence rates were 26% for full PTSD and 33% for partial PTSD.
- Lifetime MDD affected 28% of subjects, predicted by female gender and loss of relatives.
Conclusions:
- Large-scale disasters like the Vajont event have enduring psychological effects on survivors.
- Trauma-related fears are highly prevalent, indicating long-term psychological distress.
- Psychiatric health of survivors is impacted for decades, underscoring the need for sustained support.