Citation

Vitriol G V, Cancino A A, Riquelme S P, Reyes F I. Rev. Med. Chile 2013; 141(3): 338-344.

Vernacular Title

Terremoto en Chile: estrés agudo y estrés post-traumático en mujeres en tratamiento por depresión grave.

Affiliation

Unidad de Salud Mental, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Talca/Hospital base de Curicó, Chile, witriol@utalca.cl.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Sociedad Medica De Santiago)

DOI

10.4067/S0034-98872013000300009

PMID

23900325

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depression is a risk factorfor developing secondary post-traumatic stress disorder. The earthquake on February 27th, 2010, destroyed the Hospital of Curicó. Despite the prevailing chaos, patients in treatment for severe depression actively maintained their treatment from the first post-earthquake workingday AIM: To determine prevalence of acute stress (AS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the earthquake amongwomen in treatment for severe depression. Material and METHODS: Seventy five women aged 20 to 73 years in treatment for depression for at least six months before the oceurrence of the earthquake, who continued in follow up after the event, were studied. According to the Tenth International Classification ofDiseases, thefrequency ofAS was assessed duringthe consultation oceurring one month after the event and thefrequency ofPTSD was assessed during the consultation oceurring six months after the event. RESULTS: Fifty nine percent of women hadAS symptoms at thefirst month and 53.3% had PTSD, six months later. AS was signifi cantly associated with a low educational level. PTSD was significantly associated with prior oceurrence of AS and a history of childhood trauma history. CONCLUSIONS: A high frequeney ofPTSD was observed in thisgroup of depressive patients, which was significantly associated with a history ofprevious AS and childhood trauma.

Language: es