A post-earthquake psychopathological investigation in Armenia

Methodology, Summary of Findings, and Follow-Up

Bibliographic Data

ID3897561
AuthorsVahe Khachadourian (0000-0002-9882-8118, Research Associate at the College of Health Sciences American University of Armenia Armenia, corresponding author), Haroutune Armenian (Professor at the Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health University of California Los Angeles United States), Haroutune K Armenian (Fielding Graduate University, corresponding author), Anahit Demirchyan (0000-0002-3039-1466, Senior Research Specialist at the College of Health Sciences American University of Armenia Armenia, corresponding author), Arthur Melkonian (Chief Executive Officer at Promtest Armenia), Arthur K Melkonian (National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia, corresponding author), Ashot Hovanesian (Chief Executive Officer at Synergy International Systems United States)
Year2016
Volume40
Issue3
Pages518-533
Publication date2016-07-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12166
PMID26578424
OpenAlexW2173935155
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited44

The post-earthquake psychopathological investigation (PEPSI) was designed to probe the short-and long-term effects of the earthquake in northern Armenia on 7 December 1988 on survivors' mental and physical health. Four phases of this study have been conducted to date, and, overall, more than 80 per cent of a sub-sample of 1,773 drawn from an initial cohort of 32,743 was successfully followed during 2012. This paper describes the methodology employed in the evaluation, summarises previous findings, details the current objectives, and examines the general characteristics of the sample based on the most recent follow-up phase outcomes. Despite a significant decrease in psychopathology rates between 1990 and 2012, prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among study participants in 2012 were greater than 15 and 26 per cent, respectively. The paper also notes the strengths and limitations of the study vis-à-vis future research and highlights the importance and potential practical implications of similar assessments and their outcomes

Environmental health · Forensic engineering · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Suicide prevention · Engineering · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

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