Impatto traumato-nevrotico in una popolazione colpita da evento sismico

A research project, using the Croq and Steinitz questionnaire for post-traumatic stress. was set up to evaluate the psychological effects among the residents of the zone at the epicenter oj the earthquakes that hit parts of the Umbria and Marche region in September 1997. Despite the powerful emotional reaction that the earthquake produced, there was found to be only a medium to light level oj trauma. At a distance of time from the first earthquake, memories of il are widespread and persistent. The jerk reaction, the associated nighimares, the mental stress that accompanied the experience with regard to jeelings oj surprise, frighi, terror ali lead finally to jeelings of sadness, abandonment and impotence. However, the resulting level oj post-traumatic stress does not appear to have been as high as might have been pre-supposed. This can be explained by the jact that there was a limited loss of life and, even though the destructive effect of the quakes was apparento there was the constant presence oj the support services (medicai. psychiatric, psychological, hygienic) that played a positive role in containing as much as possible the effects brought about by the earthquake.