LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS AFTER AN INDUSTRIAL CATASTROPHE. THE CASE OF SAN JUAN IXHUATEPEC COMMUNITY (MÉXICO)

Abstract

This study identifies the posttraumatic effects caused by several industrial catastrophe occurred in the north of Mexico city between 1984 and 1996. A sample of 117 victims was assessed whit the ALFEST Scale (Steinitz y Crocq, 1992) to identify the effects of industrial accidents repetition (gas leakage from a petrochemical company: PEMEX, Petróleos Nexicanos). The results shown that a catastrophe of this kind causes significant posttraumatic effects on the mental health of the individuals along many years, and triggering specific psychotraumatic syndromes.