Psychiatric disorders among emotionally distressed disaster victims attending primary mental health clinics in Ecuador.

Resumen

Previous studies in developing countries have demonstrated post-disaster stress disorders in a substantial share of the people living through a natural calamity, but questions have remained as to the severity of these mental health problems. This article reports information derived from a 1987 study of Ecuadorian earthquake victims that shows many of the victims had diagnosable psychiatric disorders and provides insight into the nature of those disorders.