Sleep problems six-months after continuous earthquake activity in a Greek island

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Geology

Background:

• Natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, induce acute and chronic stress, leading to psychosocial issues like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
• Cephalonia, an island with high seismic activity, experienced a sequence of severe earthquakes in 2014, causing widespread damage but no casualties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sleep problems, specifically insomnia, in the population of Cephalonia affected by the 2014 earthquakes.
• To investigate the correlation between sleep disturbances and psychopathology, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms.

Main Methods:

• The study utilized the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) to evaluate sleep problems.
• Sleep quality was assessed retrospectively one month before and six months after the main earthquake events.
• Psychological assessments included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI - State anxiety), Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).

Main Results:

• A significant increase in insomnia and sleep problems was observed six months post-earthquake (p<0.001).
• Common complaints included difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, and daytime sleepiness.
• Higher scores for state anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with increased insomnia prevalence.

Conclusions:

• The Cephalonia population experienced persistent sleep disturbances six months after the earthquakes.
• Sleep problems were primarily linked to pre-existing or developing psychopathology and ongoing seismic anxiety, rather than sociodemographic factors.
• Mental health interventions should address sleep disturbances following natural disasters, with further research needed on long-term impacts.