The psychological impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquake on children: addressing the need for ongoing mental health support and global humanitarian response.

This letter aims to explore the potential impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquake on the psychological well-being of the affected children and adolescents. It emphasises the crucial importance of prompt identification and management of emerging mental health disorders in this vulnerable population. The letter draws on existing research evidence to highlight the need for suitable mental health interventions to mitigate the anticipated suffering of many children and adolescents affected by the earthquake. A comprehensive overview of the mediating factors which may play a role in the extent of the impact of an earthquake on the mental health of children is discussed. A range of appropriate strategies and interventions are recommended and the call for continued global support is renewed. We have concluded that major earthquakes can potentially contribute to the development of mental health disorders among children and adolescents. However, by providing timely and effective support, it is possible to prevent long-term psychological consequences and facilitate early recovery. We propose the urgent implementation of effective mental health interventions in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquake to foster the recovery and resilience of the affected young population.

Mental health disorders are more prevalent in children affected by earthquakes.Prompt identification of emerging mental health disorders among this population is crucial.Management of the psychological impact in this context must be practical and needs-based.A focused and continued global support response is needed to manage the long-term challenges.

Equipos de búsqueda y rescate urbano (USAR) en estructuras colapsadas en el terremoto de Turquía de 2023 / Urban search and rescue operations (USAR) in collapsed buildings after the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye

Los terremotos ocurridos en Turquía en febrero de 2023 han sido unos de los de mayor impacto en los últimos años. Las autoridades del país, tras activar sus recursos locales y nacionales, hicieron una solicitud de ayuda internacional. Dentro de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) se encuentra el Grupo Asesor Internacional de Búsqueda y Rescate (INSARAG), cuyos objetivos son establecer las normas internacionales mínimas para los equipos de rescate e implementar una metodología para la coordinación internacional ante terremotos, maremotos y otros desastres naturales, especialmente la coordinación operativa sobre el terreno. El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una visión sobre la epidemiología de los terremotos, la gestión de los equipos de emergencias, la Asociación de Ayuda a Desastres y Emergencias (AFAD) de Turquía, y abordar cómo es el rescate en estructuras colapsadas. Además, se expone la experiencia de Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (BUSF) en dicho terremoto y se describe un rescate que duró 14 horas. (AU)

The earthquakes that occurred in February 2023 in Türkiye had some of the worst consequences of recent years. The Turkish authorities first deployed local resources and then appealed for international help. The International Search and Rescue Group of the United Nations aims to establish minimum international standards for search and rescue teams and a methodology for coordinating responses to earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. A main concern of the group is to coordinate operations on the ground. This article offers perspectives on the epidemiology of earthquakes, the management of emergency response teams and Türkiye’s disaster management agency (AFAD); it also explains how rescues are carried out in collapsed buildings. The experience of Firefighters Without Borders after the recent earthquakes and a rescue that took 14 hours are also described. (AU)

Urban search and rescue operations (USAR) in collapsed buildings after the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. / Equipos de búsqueda y rescate urbano (USAR) en estructuras colapsadas en el terremoto de Turquía de 2023.

TEXT: The earthquakes that occurred in February 2023 in Türkiye had some of the worst consequences of recent years. The Turkish authorities first deployed local resources and then appealed for international help. The International Search and Rescue Group of the United Nations aims to establish minimum international standards for search and rescue teams and a methodology for coordinating responses to earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. A main concern of the group is to coordinate operations on the ground. This article offers perspectives on the epidemiology of earthquakes, the management of emergency response teams and Türkiye's disaster management agency (AFAD); it also explains how rescues are carried out in collapsed buildings. The experience of Firefighters Without Borders after the recent earthquakes and a rescue that took 14 hours are also described.

TEXTO: Los terremotos ocurridos en Turquía en febrero de 2023 han sido unos de los de mayor impacto en los últimos años. Las autoridades del país, tras activar sus recursos locales y nacionales, hicieron una solicitud de ayuda internacional. Dentro de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) se encuentra el Grupo Asesor Internacional de Búsqueda y Rescate (INSARAG), cuyos objetivos son establecer las normas internacionales mínimas para los equipos de rescate e implementar una metodología para la coordinación internacional ante terremotos, maremotos y otros desastres naturales, especialmente la coordinación operativa sobre el terreno. El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una visión sobre la epidemiología de los terremotos, la gestión de los equipos de emergencias, la Asociación de Ayuda a Desastres y Emergencias (AFAD) de Turquía, y abordar cómo es el rescate en estructuras colapsadas. Además, se expone la experiencia de Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (BUSF) en dicho terremoto y se describe un rescate que duró 14 horas.

Cumulative stressful events and mental health in young adults after 10 years of Wenchuan earthquake: the role of social support.

ABSTRACTBackground: After a natural disaster, stressful events often continue to accumulate, affecting individuals in a different manner than the original disaster never occurred. However, few studies have examined these associations, the cumulative impacts of stressful events on mental health outcomes, and the role of social support. This study examined the prospective association between cumulative stressful events and mental health problems and the role of social support in young adults.Methods: 695 participants provided available data on earthquake exposure, childhood maltreatment, other negative life events, and social support at baseline. Depressive symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder were assessed at baseline and 10 years after the earthquake (T10y). A cumulative stressful events index was used to evaluate the levels of cumulative stressful events. Linear regressions were used to explore the predictive effects.Results: Of 695 participants, 41.3%, 28.5%, and 7.9% reported one, two, and three stressful events, respectively. The associations between cumulative stressful events and mental health problems at T10y presented a dose-response pattern: those who experienced three events had the highest risk of mental health problems, followed by those who experienced two events and those who reported one event. Additionally, higher social support partially reduced the negative impact of cumulative stressful events on mental health.Conclusions: Cumulative stressful events are associated with mental health problems 10 years later in young earthquake survivors. Social support could reduce the negative impact, but its protective role disappears when stressful events accumulate at the highest level. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the cumulative impacts of stressful events and social support available to young disaster survivors and intervening to prevent worse mental health outcomes.

The associations between cumulative stressful events and mental health problems 10 years presented a dose­response pattern.Social support could buffer the negative impacts, but its protective role disappears when stressful events accumulate at the highest level.It is critical to assess the cumulative impacts of stressful events and social support available to young disaster survivors to prevent worse mental health consequences.

Enfermedades y terremotos en la Granada del siglo XVIII / Diseases and earthquakes in eighteenth-century Granada

El terremoto de Lisboa de 1755 generó una considerable destrucción en numerosas villas y ciudades de la Península Ibérica. La sociedad se vio conmocionada por el desastre; era necesario comprender el fenómeno para intentar evitar, en la medida de lo posible, futuras destrucciones y actuar con agilidad para promover una pronta recuperación. En este sentido, vinculado con el debate sobre la formación de la Tierra tal y como se conocía en el momento, se desarrollaron numerosas teorías sobre la causa del fenómeno. Desde las posiciones religiosas se conminaba al arrepentimiento, mientras que una protociencia geoló-gica defendía el origen natural del terremoto y, por ende, concluía que era difícil de evitar. No obstante, pese a las disensiones en la comprensión de los seísmos se daba un cierto consenso sobre sus efectos. La destrucción física era más que evidente, pero estos daños urbanísticos parecían estar acompañados por numerosas enfermedades surgidas a raíz del terremoto y documentadas por los diversos poderes locales. Parto así de la obra del cirujano de Uxíjar, Joseph Aparicio Morata, para analizar las diversas formas en las que la medicina del siglo XVIII comprendió los daños que estos fenómenos generaban sobre la naturaleza humana. El mie-do desatado por el desastre podía alterar de tal forma las sustancias humanas que entre sus resultas los abortos, melancolías y delirios eran de esperar. Cuando la tierra se abría surgían de ella numerosos gases tóxicos que, una vez en la superficie, se disipaban e infectaban a las comunidades vecinas. Los efluvios liberados conectaban a su vez con fenómenos astrológicos por su carácter aéreo (AU)

The Garden of the Heart and Soul: the image, the way, and the meaning.

This paper begins with an explanation of the four Chinese characters that represent the project of the Garden of the Heart and Soul. This project was founded to help the psychological development of orphans, as well as to provide psychological relief for the victims of ecological disasters such as earthquakes through the use of Jungian psychology, sandplay therapy, and the psychology of the Heart. Eleven years after its founding, there are 83 work-stations on mainland China. The authors discuss how the Chinese characters influenced the way they set up their project and the values that guide them. In addition to helping the individuation of the people they work with, their work provides a container for the collective psyche and a connection with the cultural archetypal roots.

Stress induced cardiomyopathy due to a Mexican earthquake / Cardiomiopatía por estrés inducida por el terremoto en México

Abstract Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy mainly occurs in postmenopausal women, with or with- out cardiovascular disease, and is commonly associated with emotional or physical stress. After nearly 27 years of extensive efforts towards a better understanding of this disorder, current knowledge remains limited. Many people suffer post-traumatic stress, and this situation can be associated to stress cardiomyopathy. The case is presented of a female who suffers stress asso- ciated with the earthquake of 19 September 2017 in Mexico City, and arrived in the Emergency Department in cardiogenic shock.

Resumen La miocardiopatía de Takotsubo ocurre principalmente en mujeres posmenopáusicas con o sin enfermedad cardiovascular, y se asocia comúnmente con estrés emocional o físico. Después de casi 27 an˜os de esfuerzos extensos para una mejor comprensión de este trastorno, el conocimiento actual sigue siendo limitado. Muchas personas sufren estrés postraumático y esta situación puede estar asociada a la cardiomiopatía por estrés. Presentamos el caso clínico de una mujer que sufrió estrés relacionado con el pasado terremoto del 19 de septiembre en la Ciudad de México y llegó al servicio de urgencias en choque cardiogénico.

Stress induced cardiomyopathy due to a Mexican earthquake.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy mainly occurs in postmenopausal women, with or without cardiovascular disease, and is commonly associated with emotional or physical stress. After nearly 27 years of extensive efforts towards a better understanding of this disorder, current knowledge remains limited. Many people suffer post-traumatic stress, and this situation can be associated to stress cardiomyopathy. The case is presented of a female who suffers stress associated with the earthquake of 19 September 2017 in Mexico City, and arrived in the Emergency Department in cardiogenic shock.

Earthquakes and their environmental, medical and public health impacts / Los terremotos y sus impactos ambientales, médicos y de salud pública

Abstract Earthquakes are probably the scariest among the natural disasters that teach us about the forces of nature and their unpredictability. Knowing that there is nothing we can do to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake, we are forced to learn from our own experience. This paper systematizes the environmental, medical and public health impacts of earthquakes. Each is presented in a structured way, highlighting its most important aspects. The relationship between them and the affected environment and population; as well as the connection between these are emphasized during earthquakes. The environment at the place of occurrence of an earthquake is important for the survival of victims and also defines the particular medical and public health needs arising from its specificity. Every country needs good disaster management with specific protocols for the expected type of disaster. These protocols must incorporate environmental, medical and public health aspects and their implementation must be very efficient; they must include educating the inhabit- ants; training teams involved in rescue, (eventual) migration/ evacuation, medical treatments and public health actions, and training and educating leaders.

Resumen Los sismos son, probablemente, los desastres naturales que más nos asustan entre todos los que nos enseñan sobre las fuerzas de la naturaleza y su impredecibilidad. Puesto que sabemos que no podemos hacer nada para evitar que ocurra un sismo, nos vemos obligados a aprender de nuestra propia experiencia. Este trabajo sistematiza los impactos de los sismos sobre el medio ambiente, la atención médica y la salud pública. Presentamos cada uno de ellos en una forma estructurada, destacando sus aspectos más importantes. Su relación con el entorno afectado y la población afectada y la conexión entre éstos se enfatizan durante los sismos. El entorno en el sitio donde ocurre un sismo es importante para la supervivencia de las víctimas y asimismo define las necesidades particulares en materia de salud pública y atención médica que surgen de su especificidad. Cada país requiere de un buen manejo de los desastres, con protocolos específicos para el tipo de desastre esperado. Dichos protocolos deben incorporar aspectos ambientales, médicos y de salud pública, y su implementación debe ser sumamente eficiente; deben incluir la educación de los habitantes, la capacitación de los equipos que participen en las labores de rescate, migración o evacuación (eventual), tratamientos médicos y acciones de salud pública, y la capacitación y educación de líderes.

Posttraumatic stress disorder: a serious post-earthquake complication / Transtorno do estresse pós-traumático: complicação séria pós-terremoto

Abstract Objectives Earthquakes are unpredictable and devastating natural disasters. They can cause massive destruction and loss of life and survivors may suffer psychological symptoms of severe intensity. Our goal in this article is to review studies published in the last 20 years to compile what is known about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurring after earthquakes. The review also describes other psychiatric complications that can be associated with earthquakes, to provide readers with better overall understanding, and discusses several sociodemographic factors that can be associated with post-earthquake PTSD Method A search for literature was conducted on major databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO and in neurology and psychiatry journals, and many other medical journals. Terms used for electronic searches included, but were not limited to, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posttraumatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, major depressive disorder, earthquake, and natural disaster. The relevant information was then utilized to determine the relationships between earthquakes and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Results It was found that PTSD is the most commonly occurring mental health condition among earthquake survivors. Major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, and specific phobias were also listed. Conclusion The PTSD prevalence rate varied widely. It was dependent on multiple risk factors in target populations and also on the interval of time that had elapsed between the exposure to the deadly incident and measurement. Females seemed to be the most widely-affected group, while elderly people and young children exhibit considerable psychosocial impact.

Resumo Objetivos Terremotos são desastres naturais imprevisíveis e devastadores. Eles podem causar destruição em massa e morte, e os sobreviventes podem apresentar sintomas psicológicos severos. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar estudos publicados nos últimos 20 anos pra compilar o conhecimento disponível acerca da ocorrência de transtorno do estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) após terremotos. A revisão também descreve outras complicações psiquiátricas que podem estar associadas a terremotos, oferecendo aos leitores um melhor entendimento geral sobre o assunto, e discute vários fatores sociodemográficos que podem estar associados com TEPT pós-terremoto. Métodos Foi realizada uma busca de literatura nas principais bases de dados, como MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE e PsycINFO, e também em revistas de neurologia e psiquiatria, e vários outros periódicos médicos. Os termos usados nas buscas eletrônicas incluíram, mas não se limitaram a, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posttraumatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, major depressive disorder, earthquake e natural disaster. As informações relevantes foram então utilizadas para determinar as relações entre terremotos e sintomas de estresse pós-traumático. Resultados A revisão revelou que o TEPT é a condição de saúde mental mais comum em sobreviventes de terremoto. Depressão maior, transtorno de ansiedade generalizada, transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo, fobia social e fobias específicas foram outras condições encontrados. Conclusão A prevalência de TEPT variou bastante. O transtorno foi dependente de múltiplos fatores de risco em populações-alvo e também do intervalo de tempo decorrido entre a exposição ao incidente fatal e a avaliação. As mulheres pareceram ser o grupo mais amplamente afetado, ao passo que idosos e crianças demonstração considerável impacto psicossocial.

Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Prevalence and Local Distribution after an Earthquake with Scarce Data.

BACKGROUND: After a major earthquake, the assignment of scarce mental health emergency personnel to different geographic areas is crucial to the effective management of the crisis. The scarce information that is available in the aftermath of a disaster may be valuable in helping predict where are the populations that are in most need. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to derive algorithms to predict posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom prevalence and local distribution after an earthquake and to test whether there are algorithms that require few input data and are still reasonably predictive. METHODS: A rich database of PTS symptoms, informed after Chile's 2010 earthquake and tsunami, was used. Several model specifications for the mean and centiles of the distribution of PTS symptoms, together with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence, were estimated via linear and quantile regressions. The models varied in the set of covariates included. RESULTS: Adjusted R2 for the most liberal specifications (in terms of numbers of covariates included) ranged from 0.62 to 0.74, depending on the outcome. When only including peak ground acceleration (PGA), poverty rate, and household damage in linear and quadratic form, predictive capacity was still good (adjusted R2 from 0.59 to 0.67 were obtained). CONCLUSIONS: Information about local poverty, household damage, and PGA can be used as an aid to predict PTS symptom prevalence and local distribution after an earthquake. This can be of help to improve the assignment of mental health personnel to the affected localities. Dussaillant F , Apablaza M . Predicting posttraumatic stress symptom prevalence and local distribution after an earthquake with scarce data. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):357-367.

Factores socio-demográficos, crecimiento y sintomatología postraumática en sobrevivientes del terremoto de Chile del 2010 / Socio-demographic factors, posttraumatic growth and symptoms in survivors of Chile earthquake 2010

El propósito de este estudio es evaluar la relación entre factores socio-demográficos y del evento con la sintomatología postraumática (SPT) y el crecimiento postraumático (CPT) en personas que perdieron su hogar en el terremoto de Chile del 27 de febrero de 2010. Con este fin, se seleccionaron 351 personas adultas, entre 18 y 84 años, de las cuales 63,2% eran mujeres. Se aplicó el Inventario de Crecimiento Postraumático y la Escala de Impacto de Evento Revisada, además de un cuestionario socio-demográfico. Se evidencia en el estudio la relación significativa con la SPT o el CPT de elementos tales como sexo, edad, ingresos económicos, cambio de comuna tras el sismo y la razón de la pérdida de la vivienda Se presentan los resultados y argumenta su alcance para la promoción y prevención de salud en sobrevivientes de desastres naturales.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship that socio-demographic and event factors share with post-traumatic symptomatology (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in people who lost their home in the earthquake that hit Chile on february 27th, 2010. To this end, 351 adults from 18 to 84 years old were selected, of whom 63.2% were women. For this study, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the revised Impact of Event Scale (IES) were applied, in addition to a socio-demographic questionnaire. This study shows that elements such as gender, age, economic income, change of location after the earthquake, and the reason behind the loss of housing bear a significant relation with PTSD or PTG. Results are presented, and their consequences for health promotion and prevention in survivors of natural disasters are discussed. Keywords: posttraumatic

Síntomas del trastorno por estrés postraumático en la comuna chilena de Cobquecura, 2010 / Post-trauma stress syndrome observed in Chilean commune of Cobquecura 2010

Objetivo: estimar síntomas del trastorno por estrés postraumático en habitantes de la Comuna de Cobquecura, Chile después del terremoto de 2010. Métodos: se utilizó un diseño no experimental de tipo descriptivo. Para recoger los datos se aplicó la Escala de Davidson, que mide percepción de síntomas relacionados con estrés postraumático. Resultados: el 58,5 por ciento de los entrevistados presentaba estrés postraumático con dificultades para elaborar la situación vivida, ya sea por la reexperimentación, la evitación de hablar acerca del suceso o la sobrevigilancia referida a los estímulos. A lo anterior debe agregarse que el 41,5 por ciento del resto de la población no alcanzaron el umbral mínimo para clasificarlo como trastorno por estrés postraumático según la validación y confiabilidad que entrega la Escala de Davidson. Sin embargo esto no implica que no tuvieran un grado de estrés postrauma. Conclusiones: se podría haber esperado un porcentaje más alto de la población con estrés postraumático dado que se encontraban en la zona del epicentro, sin embargo, Cobquecura resistió el terremoto de buena manera, sin víctimas fatales y no fue afectado por tsunami, por ende la población regresó rápidamente a su funcionamiento normal después del evento. Esto se refleja en el hecho de que los participantes notificaron pocos daños materiales causados por el terremoto(AU)

Objective: to determine post-trauma stress disorder symptoms in inhabitants of Cobquecura community after 2010 earthquake. Methods: non-experimental descriptive-type design was used to collect data as well as Davidson Trauma Scale was applied to measure symptoms related with post traumatic stress. Results: in the study population, 58.5 percent of the interviewed people presented with post traumatic stress, having difficulties in describing the situation that they had lived, whether for the re-experimentation, avoiding any talk about the event, or due to excessive surveillance of stimuli. It must be added that the remaining 41.5 percent of the inhabitants did not reach the minimum threshold to be classified as post traumatic stress disorder individuals, according to the validation and the reliability of Davidson Trauma Scale. However, this does not imply that they did not suffer post-trauma stress. Conclusions: a higher percentage of population with post trauma stress could have been expected, since this community was located in the epicentre area. Cobquecura withstood the earthquake; there were neither fatal victims nor tsunami, so people returned rapidly to their normal life after the event. This is mainly revealed in the fact that the participants reported few material damages caused by the earthquake(AU)

Significados y vulnerabilidad social ante el terremoto y tsunami del 27 de febrero del 2010: la dimensión subjetiva desde los "damnificados" / Meanings and social vulnerability to 27F earthquake and tsunami: subjective dimension of Chilean victims

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer los significados y experiencias de 14 personas damnificadas por el desastre del 27F pertenecientes a la comuna de Constitución, Chile. Para esto se utilizó un diseño cualitativo de corte fenomenológico. Para la selección de participantes se empleó un muestreo intencionado. En cuanto a la producción de datos, se aplicó la técnica de entrevistas en profundidad cuyo producto fue analizado con la estrategia de codificación de la teoría fundamentada. Los resultados se dividen en dos temas principales: a) nos quedamos con lo puesto: (sobre)viviendo en la incertidumbre; y b) desorganización institucional vs. apoyo civil. Se identificaron subcategorías en cada tema de análisis, las cuales son ilustradas por los datos narrativos. Asimismo, se discuten y valoran las implicancias en la incorporación de la subjetividad de los afectados al proceso de comprensión psicosocial en la investigación sobre los desastres socio-naturales.

The present study aimed to understand meanings and shared experiences of 14 persons from Constitución (Chile) affected by the natural disaster on 27 February (27F). In order to achieve this goal, phenomenological qualitative design was used, selecting a purposive sampling comprised of people affected by the 27F earthquake and tsunami. Qualitative data collection was produced via in-depth interviews which were analyzed through strategies of codification based on grounded theory. The results are split into two main subjects: A) We lost everything: Surviving under uncertain conditions. B) Institutional disorganization vs. civil society. Five subcategories were identified inside each category of analysis and are illustrated by their narrative stories. Additionally, implications connected with the incorporation of that subjectivity experienced by victims to the process of psychosocial understanding (framed into the research of socio-natural disaster) is discussed and assessed.

Afrontamiento comunal, crecimiento postraumático colectivo y bienestar social en el contexto del terremoto del 27 de febrero de 2010 en Chile / Coping community, collective posttraumatic growth and social well-being in context february 27 earthquake in Chile, 2010

El terremoto y tsunami ocurridos en Chile el 27 de febrero de 2010 constituyeron un contexto de desastre que movilizó estrategias para afrontar sus efectos. Una de ellas corresponde al afrontamiento comunal (AC), que implica activar recursos sociales para resolver problemas colectivos. Otra de estas formas es la reevaluación asociada a cambios positivos que las personas perciben tras el desastre o crecimiento postraumático (CPT). El presente trabajo explora el uso de formas de AC y de CPT después del terremoto, en una muestra de 80 personas en Chile. Se identificaron dimensiones de afrontamiento directo, distracción y expresión o compartimiento emocional y evitación, así como una estructura del CPT a nivel individual, relacional y colectivo. El afrontamiento directo, la distracción y la compartición emocional correlacionaron significativamente con CPT y bienestar social. Se discuten estos resultados y se plantean sus implicaciones en el estudio psicosocial de las catástrofes naturales.

The earthquake and tsunami in Chile on February 27, 2010 constituted a context of disaster which mobilized collective strategies to cope with its effects. One of them corresponds to the communal coping (CC), which involves activating social resources to solve shared collective problems. Another aspect is the reevaluation associated with positive changes that people perceive after a disaster and it is defined as post-traumatic growth (PTG). This paper explores the use of different forms of CC and PTG after the earthquake, in a sample of 80 people in Chile. Four dimensions of communal coping were identified: direct coping, distraction, emotional expression and avoidance. Furthermore, PTG structure was defined as composed of individual, relational and collective levels. Direct coping, distraction and emotional sharing significantly correlated with CPT and social well-being. The results and their implications are discussed in a context of psychosocial studies of natural disasters.

Severidad del trauma, optimismo, crecimiento postraumático y bienestar en sobrevivientes de un desastre natural / Severity of Trauma, Optimism, Posttraumatic Growth and Well-Being in Survivors of a Natural Disaster

El propósito del estudio fue evaluar, en una población afectada por un desastre natural, la relación de algunas variables sociales y psicológicas con el bienestar psicológico y el crecimiento postraumático. Se obtuvo una muestra de 446 personas de la provincia de Concepción (Chile), afectadas por el terremoto del 27/F del 2010. Se emplearon el Inventario de Crecimiento Postraumático (PTGI), el Cuestionario de Orientación Vital (LOT-R) y la Flourishing Scale. Se analizó la relación entre severidad objetiva del evento (pérdida material, daño físico en alguien cercano y daño físico personal), severidad subjetiva del evento (conside -rar el evento como traumático o que alteró sus vidas) y optimismo disposicional, observándose que la interacción del optimismo con la severidad subjetiva u objetiva aporta significativamente en la predicción del bienestar y el crecimiento, moderando el impacto de dichas variables. Además, se evaluaron diferencias por sexo, edad y nivel socioeconómico. Se determinó la influencia relativa del nivel socioeconómico sobre el crecimiento postraumático. Este estudio resalta la importancia de las condiciones sociales sobre los efectos psicológicos de los desastres naturales y la importancia del optimismo para amortiguar dichos efectos.

The aim of the study was to evaluate, in a population affected by a natural disaster, the relationship of social and psychological variables with the psychological well-being and posttraumatic growth. Participated 446 people of the province of Concepcion, Chile, affected by the earthquake on 27/F, 2010. We used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and the Flourishing Scale. We analyzed the relationship between objective severity of the event (material loss, physical damage to someone close and personal physical damage), subjective severity of the event (considering the event as traumatic or altered their lives) and dispositional optimism, showing that the interaction of optimism with subjective or objective severity contributes significantly to the prediction of well-being and growth, moderating the impact of these variables. In addition, we evaluated differences by sex, age and socioeconomic status. There was a relative influence of socioeconomic status on posttraumatic growth. This study shows the relevance of social conditions on the psychological effects of natural disasters and the importance of optimism to mitigate these effects.

Sintomas de estresse pós-traumático em profissionais durante ajuda humanitária no Haiti, após o terremoto de 2010 / Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among professionals during humanitarian aid in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010

O artigo tem por objetivo rastrear sintomatologia de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) em profissionais que prestaram ajuda humanitária à população haitiana, após o terremoto de 2010. Estudo transversal. A sintomatologia de TEPT foi avaliada pela Escala Impacto do Evento - Revisada (IES-R). Os participantes foram 32 brasileiros (idade m = 37.58 +/- 7.01), 22 estadosunidenses (idade m = 33.67 +/- 8.03) e 12 equatorianos (idade m = 44.80 +/- 15.88) e não apresentaram sintomatologia de TEPT. A relação entre as variáveis experiência prévia em situação de desastre e escore total da IES-R [F(2) = 4.34, p = 0.017] bem como experiência prévia em situação de desastre e subescala intrusão [F(2) = 3.94, p = 0.024] foram significantes nos modelos de regressão linear. Experiência prévia se mostrou preditor significante para escore total da IES-R (p < 0,05). Os resultados demonstraram que vivências atuais podem ser potencializadas pelas memórias de experiências anteriores, aumentando a probabilidade de desenvolvimento de TEPT. Portanto, o cuidado com a saúde mental dos profissionais deve favorecer a precoce identificação do fator de risco experiência prévia, não permitindo que a iniciativa voluntária se sobreponha aos critérios seletivos e aos cuidados específicos.

The scope of this article is to screen the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the professionals who provided humanitarian aid for the Haitian population after the 2010 earthquake. It involvess a cross-sectional study. The Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) was used for screening symptoms of PTSD. The participants included 32 Brazilians (mean age = 37.58 +/-7.01), 22 Americans (mean age =33.67 +/-8.03) and 12 Ecuadorians (mean age = 44.80 +/- 15.88). The professionals did not have PTSD symptoms. The relationship between prior experience variables in disaster situations and the total score of the IES-R (F (2) = 4.34, p = 0.017), as well as prior experience in disaster situations and the intrusion subscale (F (2) = 3.94, p = 0.024) were significant in linear regression models. The number of prior experiences was revealed as a significant predictor for the total score of IES (p < 0.05). The results showed that current experiences can be exacerbated by memories of prior experiences, increasing the likelihood of developing PTSD. Therefore the mental health care of the professionals should foster the early identification of prior experience risk factors, thereby not permitting voluntary initiative to transcend selective criteria and specific care.

Terremoto en Chile: evolución del estado clínico global y los síntomas post-traumáticos en una cohorte de mujeres con depresión severa en un hospital público enfrentadas al terremoto del 27 de febrero de 2010 / Earthquake in Chile: evolution of the global clinical impression and post-traumatic symptoms in a cohort of women in treatment for severe depression in a public hospital, who confronted the earthquake on february, 27th 2010

Objective: To reveal the impact on the global clinical status and post-traumatic symptoms evolution in women in treatment for severe depression in the Hospital of Curicó, who confronted the F-27 earthquake. Methodology: 75 women in treatment for severe depression were evaluated from the first working day after the catastrophe. According to the ICD-10, acute stress (AS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were clinically determined. The routinary use of the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) allowed the monitoring of the clinical status before and after the earthquake. The eight-item treatment-outcome post-traumatic stress disorder scale (TOP-8) was applied twice, at the first and sixth months. Results: AS: 58.7 percent, PTSD: 53.3 percent. Significant deterioration in CGI was observed one month post-event (X² = 3.88; p < 0.05) and an ostensible improvement six months later (X² = 4.65; p < 0.04). The post-traumatic symptoms did not improve significantly. More severe CGI immediately after the earthquake was significantly associated to AS (X² = 13.794; p < 0.008) and to the subsequent development of PTSD (X² = 16.437; p < 0.002). More severe CGI after six months was correlated significantly with previous AS (X² = 15.849; p < 0.003), with PTSD (X² = 17.780; p < 0.001) and with records of childhood trauma (X² = 18.431; p<0.01). Conclusions: After a significant clinical deterioration observed immediately post disaster, at six month the CGI improved the CGI, while post-traumatic symptoms did not. There was no increase in suicidal behavior. Records of childhood trauma were associated with significant aggravation of the CGI six months after the earthquake...

Objetivo: Conocer la evolución clínica global y de síntomas postraumáticos en mujeres enfrentadas al terremoto del 27-F que se encontraban en tratamiento por depresión severa en el Hospital de Curicó. Metodología: 75 mujeres en tratamiento por depresión severa fueron evaluadas a contar del primer día hábil post-catástrofe. Conforme a la CIE-10, se determinó clínicamente estrés agudo (EA) durante el primer mes y postraumático (TEPT) a los seis meses. El uso rutinario de la escala de impresión clínica global (CGI) permitió monitorear el estado clínico desde antes del terremoto. La escala de 8 ítems para la evaluación del trastorno de estrés post-traumático (TOP-8) fue aplicada al primer y sexto mes post-desastre. Resultados: Las prevalencias encontradas fueron: EA 58,7 por ciento y TEPT 53,3 por ciento. Se observó deterioro significativo en CGI al primer mes post- evento (X² = 3,88; p = 0,05) y una ostensible mejoría a los seis meses (X² = 4,65; p = 0,04). No mejoraron significativamente los síntomas postraumáticos. Estados más graves inmediatamente después del terremoto se asociaron significativamente a EA (X² = 13,794; p = 0,008) y a desarrollo posterior de TEPT (X² = 16,437; p = 0,002). Estados más graves a los seis meses se correlacionaron significativamente con EA previo (X² = 15,849; p = 0,003), TEPT X² = 17,780; p = 0,001) y antecedentes de trauma infantil (X² = 18,431;p = 0,01). Conclusiones: Luego del agravamiento clínico inicial post-terremoto, a los seis meses no mejoraron significativamente los síntomas postraumáticos de las pacientes, pero mejoró la CGI y no se observó un aumento de conductas suicidas. El antecedente de trauma infantil se asoció a un deterioro significativo de la CGI a los seis meses post-terremoto...

Terremotos, solidaridad y movilización nacional / Earthquakes, solidarity and national mobilization

Introduction: historically Chile has concentrated many of the largest earthquakes that have occurred worldwide, with great physical, psychological and economic impact on the population. Unlike previous events, the last earthquake /tsunami of february 27, 2010 has received major scientific attention. This article, insert in the commemorative issue of the Chilean Journal of Pediatrics, aims to give a historical overview of how earthquakes have positively shaped public policy and national identity. A historical analysis of the natural disasters in Chile between 1939 and 1960 is presented. Conclusions: the process of how coping with disasters has adapted to the prevailing socio-epidemiological reality, supporting high-impact public policies, is emphasized. In this context, child mental and emotional health has increasingly gained priority. The challenge is to develop, organize and implement strategies that respond to the real needs of the affected population.

Introducción: históricamente el territorio de Chile ha concentrando varios de los movimientos telúricos de mayor magnitud que se han registrado a nivel mundial, con gran impacto físico, psicológico y económico en la población. A diferencia de eventos anteriores, el último terremoto/maremoto, del 27 de febrero de 2010 ha sido registrado en una importante producción científica. El presente artículo, inserto en el número conmemorativo de la revista Chilena de Pediatría, tiene por objetivo dar una mirada histórica de cómo los terremotos han logrado moldear positivamente las políticas públicas e identidad nacional. Para ello se realiza un análisis histórico de los desastres naturales ocurridos en Chile los años 1939 y 1960. Conclusiones: se destaca como el enfrentamiento de desastres se ha ido adecuando a la realidad socio-epidemiológica predominante, sustentando políticas públicas de alto impacto. En este marco, la salud mental y emocional de los niños ha ido adquiriendo cada vez mayor prioridad. El desafío es desarrollar, organizar e implementar estrategias que respondan a las reales necesidades de la población afectada.

Estrés postraumático en escolares a 8 meses del 27F / Post-traumatic stress disorder in children eight months after february 27, 2010

Introduction: there are several epidemiological studies regarding the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children exposed to natural disasters. Objective: to describe the prevalence of PTSD in a school-age population in a coastal town from the Maule Region, 8 months after the earthquake/tsunami in february 2010, and to compare differences among PTSD groups of symptom (re-experiencing, avoidance and activation) according to demographic variables such as age, grade, gender and family type. Methodology: the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), validated in Chile in 2009, was used in 89 children between 3rd and 6th grade, corresponding to 94.7 percent of the children enrolled in the local school in such classes. Data are analyzed by gender, age, grade and type of family. 89 surveys were applied, 59.6 percent were male and 40.4 percent female aged 8-13. Results: 40.4 percent of children had symptoms consistent with PTSD, with higher incidence in women and younger children; the most significant association among women was age. Both groups (women and young children) presented the highest scores on all group of symptoms. There were no differences by type of family. Conclusions: the incidence of PTSD measured by CPSS scale in the study population was 40.4 percent, considered to be among the highest percentages reported in the international literature.

Introducción: existen diversos datos epidemiológicos respecto a la incidencia de Trastorno por Estrés Pos-traumático (TEPT) en niños expuestos a desastres naturales. Objetivo: describir la prevalencia de TEPT en una población infantil escolarizada de una localidad costera de la Región del Maule después de 8 meses de ocurrido el terremoto/maremoto de febrero/2010, y comparar las diferencias entre grupos de síntomas del TEPT (reexperimentación, evitación y activación) según variables demográficas, como edad, curso, sexo y tipo de familia. Metodología: se aplicó la escala Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) validada en Chile el año 2009, a 89 niños de 3° a 6° básico lo que corresponde al 94,7 por ciento de los niños matriculados en la escuela de la localidad en dichos cursos. Se analizan los datos según sexo, edad, curso y tipo de familia. Se aplicaron 89 encuestas, 59,6 por ciento eran varones y 40,4 por ciento mujeres de 8 a 13 años de edad. Resultados: el 40,4 por ciento del total de niños tuvo una evaluación compatible con TEPT, con mayor incidencia en mujeres y niños de menor edad, siendo la edad un factor de asociación significativa en las mujeres. Ambos grupos (mujeres y niños más pequeños) presentaron mayores puntajes en todos los grupos sintomáticos. No se encontraron diferencias según el tipo de familia. Conclusiones: la incidencia de TEPT medida a través de la escala CPSS en la población estudiada fue de 40.4 por ciento, encontrándose entre las más altas reportadas en la bibliografía internacional.