Long-term traumatic stress responses of survivors of the August 1999 earthquake in Turkey

Abstract

On August 17, 1999, the Marmara earthquake in Turkey led to a total collapse of two big cities, resulting in a death toll of 18,000. Although the scars of this earthquake can never be erased, the calamity can lead to a better understanding of the effects of earthquake on the survivors. We examined long-term traumatic stress responses, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) and depression, in 107 survivors using a qualitative research method. We found that most of the survivors met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. High percentages of PTSD symptoms and hopelessness may reflect the effect of accumulating stressors related to resource loss.