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Introduction Research across a range of disaster types has identified that psychological disturbances are common in the aftermath. The consequences of these disturbances can be long lasting. Objectives This study assessed the long-term mental health effects of a wildfire disaster which happen in a rural area of Greece in 2007. Aims a) to assess the course of psychopathology associated with the disaster, b) to evaluate if there are differences in psychological distress between victims and controls 3 years after the disaster. Methods The population for this cross-sectional study was a random sample of adult population (18–65 years old) of victims and controls who had been assessed 2½ years before. The measured variables were: a) demographics b) Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Results 530 participants (301 victims and 229 controls). Attrition rate: 13.8%. Psychological distress was significantly (p Conclusions Most psychological problems decreased from the initial (6 months after the disaster) to the second survey (3 years after) among affected from the wildfires participants. Although their psychological problems decreased, victims still had more psychological problems (e.g. anxiety, somatisation, phobias) than the participants in the control group.

IntroductionPsychopathological disturbances are common in the aftermaths of a disaster. The consequences of these disorders can be long lasting. In August of 2007 an intense and destructive wildfire broke out in the Peloponnesus peninsula in Greece.ObjectivesTo investigate psychological and psychiatric morbidity in individuals who had experienced severe exposure to a wildfire disaster in a part of Greece and to indentify risk factors for the post disaster psychological problems.AimsTo investigate a broader spectrum of mid-term psychological and psychiatric morbidity in victims, to evaluate the proportion of psychopathology that could be accredited to the disaster, to estimate the association of losses with different psychological symptoms, to indentify risk factors for psychopathology.MethodsA Cross sectional case control study of adult population (18–65 years old). Data collected among others were demographic, Symptom Checklist 90-Revised for assessment of psychological difficulties, type and number of losses.ResultsThose damnified from the disaster scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the symptoms of somatisation, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoia, and had significantly more symptoms (PST) and were more distressed by them (GSI) compared to controls. In addition risk factors for someone to be a psychiatric case were to be a victim from the fire, to have finished primary school, to be windowed and to have damages to his property.ConclusionsWildfires can cause considerable psychological symptoms in victims and there are reasons for public health policy makers to create services in order to help and improve the mental health of those affected.