Using a random-digit-dial, computer-assisted telephone survey, the Civilian Mississippi Scale for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was administered in two communities, six to ten months after separate, moderately strong earthquakes. Controlling for demographic attributes, only one earthquake characteristic, in one community, emerged as an independent predictor of PTSD scores. Assuming that the scale is a valid indicator of PTSD, the disorder appears to be relatively rare and is not associated as expected with characteristics of the quake. For the appropriate community services to be mobilized, it is incumbent upon researchers to identify the tools that will provide useful information after a disaster.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Applied Technology Council.1985. ATC-13 Earthquake Damage Evaluation Data for California.Redwood, CA: Applied Technology Council.
2.
BourqueLinda B., ShoafKimberley I., and NguyenLoc H.. 1997. “Survey Rescarch.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters15: 73–101.
3.
BrometEvelyn, SonnegaAmanda, and KesslerRonald C.. 1998. “Risk Factors for DSM-III-R Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Findings from the National Comorbidity Survey.” American Journal of Epidemiology147: 353–361.
4.
CarrVaughn J., LewinTerry J., KenardyJustin A., WebsterRosemary A., HazellPhillip L., CarterGregory L., and WilliamsonMichael. 1997. “Psychosocial Sequelae of the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake: III. Role of Vulnerability Factors in Post-disaster Morbidity.” Psychological Medicine27: 179–190.
5.
GreenBonnie L., LindyJacob D., GraceMary C., and GleserGoldine C.. 1989. “Multiple Diagnosis in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of War Stressors.” Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease177: 329–335.
6.
KeaneTerence M., CaddellJusta M., and TaylorKathryn L.. 1988. “Mississippi Scale for Combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Three Studies in Reliability and Validity.” Journal of Consulting and- Clinical Psychology56: 85–90.
7.
KoopmanCheryl, ClassenCatherine, and SpiegelDavid. 1994. “Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Survivors of the Oakland/Berkeley Firestorm.” American Journal of Psychiatry151: 888–894.
8.
KulkaRichard A., SchlengerWilliam E., FairbankJohn A., JordanB. Kathleen, HoughRichard L., MarmarCharles R., and WeissDaniel S.. 1991. “Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Community: Prospects and Pitfalls from Recent Studies of Vietnam Veterans.” Psychological Assessment3: 547–560.
9.
LauterbachDean, VranaScott, KingDaniel W., and KingLynda A.. 1997. “Psychometric Properties of the Civilian Version of the Mississippi PTSD Scale.” Journal of Traumatic Stress10: 499–513.
10.
NorrisFran H., and PerillaJulia L.. 1996. “The Revised Civilian Mississippi Scale for PTSD: Reliability, Validity, and Cross-language Stability.” Journal of Traumatic Stress9: 285–298.
11.
ResnickHeidi S., KilpatrickDean G., DanskyBonnie S., SaundersBenjamin E., and BestConnie L.. 1993. “Prevalence of Civilian Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Representative National Sample of Women.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology61: 984–991.
12.
ShoreJames H., TatumEllie L., and VollmerWilliam M.. 1986. “Psychiatric Reactions to Disaster: The Mount Saint Helens Experience.” American Journal of Psychiatry143: 590–595.
13.
SteinglassPeter, and GerrityEllen. 1990. “Natural Disasters and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Short-term versus Long-term Recovery in Two Disaster-affected Communities.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology21: 1746–1765.
14.
TobinGraham A., and OllenburgerJane C.. 1996. “Predicting Levels of Postdisaster Stress in Adults following the 1993 Floods in the Upper Midwest.” Environment and Behavior28: 340–357.
15.
VrevenDawn L., GudanowskiDavid M., KingLynda A., and KingDaniel W.. 1995. “The Civilian Version of the Mississippi PTSD Scale: A Psychometric Evaluation.” Journal of Traumatic Stress8: 91–109.
