Trauma and Natural Disaster: The Case of Earthquakes in Greece

In Greece, a seismogenic country, several studies have explored the psychopathological reactions among exposed populations. In this article, all research publications related to psychological and traumatic consequences of earthquakes on affected population samples in the cities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Kalamata, and Aegion over the last 40 years are reviewed. Significant magnitudes of prevalence in anxiety and depressive symptomatology levels were recorded in the studies under review. The majority of individuals were found also to have developed acute stress reactions and posttraumatic stress disorder. These subjects were more vulnerable due to previous psychopathology or because they have been exposed to serious material losses. A decrease in suicide attempts following the Athens earthquake of 1981 and an increase in the incidence of fatal health attack mortality were also observed. Some methodological and ethical issues were noted, such as the time pressure for the completion of surveys during the acute social disruption followed by limited psychological support.