Post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors of Bam earthquake 40 days after the event

To investigate the point prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] in a group of survivors of the Bam 2003 earthquake, 145 participants [83 females and 62 males] were studied using structured interviews according to PTSD Symptom Scale [PSS] and Revised Impact of Event Scale [R-IES] items. The mean number of first and second order family members who had died in the disaster was 75.7, range 0 to 350 persons. About 81% of the participants were eligible for PTSD diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV or DSM IV-TR] criteria. No significant correlation was found between demographic variables or history of psychiatric illness and measures of psychological distress