Remembering the earthquake: intrusive memories of disaster in a rural Italian community

Memories were rated as being distressing, vivid, and experienced as a mixture of images and thoughts. The content of intrusive memories generally focused on sensations and experiences during the earthquake. Other common categories of content were the material environment and physical objects as well as human loss & death.

Several memories had a social focus. A minority of memories contained more positive content as well as content from before and after the earthquake. Some participants (28%) experienced repeated intrusive memories of the same content.

Memories of participants with and without probable PTSD did not significantly differ on characteristics or content. Intrusive memories can be common, distressing, and persistent occurrences following disasters, even in survivors not suffering from probable PTSD. Intrusive memories were common, distressing, and vivid more than 1-year post-disaster.

They captured peri-earthquake sensations, material destruction, death, and social interactions. No difference in content or characteristics was found between participants with and without probable PTSD. Intrusive memories were common, distressing, and vivid more than 1-year post-disaster.

They captured peri-earthquake sensations, material destruction, death, and social interactions. No difference in content or characteristics was found between participants with and without probable PTSD.