[Earthquake in Chile: acute stress and post traumatic stress disorder among women in treatment for severe depression]. / Terremoto en Chile: estrés agudo y estrés post-traumático en mujeres en tratamiento por depresión grave.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a risk factor for 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 working day AIM: To determine prevalence of acute stress (AS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the earthquake among women 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 of Diseases, the frequency of AS was assessed during the consultation oceurring one month after the event and the frequency of PTSD was assessed during the consultation oceurring six months after the event. RESULTS: Fifty nine percent of women had AS symptoms at the first month and 53.3% had PTSD, six months later. AS was significantly 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 of PTSD was observed in this group of depressive patients, which was significantly associated with a history of previous AS and childhood trauma.

Terremoto en Chile: estrés agudo y estrés post-traumático en mujeres en tratamiento por depresión grave / Earthquake in Chile: acute stress and post traumatic stress disorder among women in treatment for severe depression

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.