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P-1035 - Long-term Psychological Effects of a Wildfire Disaster in Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

D. Adamis ,
V. Papanikolaou ,
R.C. Mellon ,
G. Prodromitis ,
K. Tyrovola  and
J. Kyriopoulos
D. Adamis
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece HSPR Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK
V. Papanikolaou
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
R.C. Mellon
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece
G. Prodromitis
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece
K. Tyrovola
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece
J. Kyriopoulos
Affiliation:
Research and Academic Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece

Abstract

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Introduction

Research across a range of disaster types has identified that psychological disturbances are common in the aftermath. The consequences of these disturbances can be long lasting.

Objectives

This study assessed the long-term mental health effects of a wildfire disaster which happen in a rural area of Greece in 2007.

Aims

a) to assess the course of psychopathology associated with the disaster, b) to evaluate if there are differences in psychological distress between victims and controls 3 years after the disaster.

Methods

The population for this cross-sectional study was a random sample of adult population (18–65 years old) of victims and controls who had been assessed 2½ years before. The measured variables were: a) demographics b) Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R).

Results

530 participants (301 victims and 229 controls). Attrition rate: 13.8%. Psychological distress was significantly (p < 0.05) lower 3 years after the disaster compared to initial assessments. However, victims of the wildfires still had more distress compared to controls. Similarly, the number of caseness (as it is defined by the SCL-90-R) was significantly higher in the victims’ group compared to controls’. In contrast, there was a significant reduction of the rates of caseness in both victims and controls compared to initial assessments.

Conclusions

Most psychological problems decreased from the initial (6 months after the disaster) to the second survey (3 years after) among affected from the wildfires participants. Although their psychological problems decreased, victims still had more psychological problems (e.g. anxiety, somatisation, phobias) than the participants in the control group.

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 27 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 20th European Congress of Psychiatry , 2012 , pp. 1
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2012
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