[Psychological changes in the victims of the Gdańsk Shipyard hall fire in the period of 1995-1999]

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper was to answer two questions. First--has a particular traumatic event (the Gdańsk Shipyard concert-hall fire) caused any psychopathological changes in the victims? Secondly--if yes, how do the dynamics of these changes manifest themselves?

Method: The authors used two psychological methods. Adjective Check List, which measures the structure of psychological needs, and in some way, the picture of oneself (before and after the fire) and HADS-M, which measures the intensity of negative emotions (anxiety, depressiveness and aggression). The first investigation in 1995 included two groups: 46 victims of the fire and a control group (47 youngsters, who did not participate in this particular concert). The investigation of the victims group was then repeated twice, in 1996 (35 persons) and in 1999 (39 persons).

Results: The series of investigations lead to the conclusion that the traumatic event (Gdańsk Shipyard hall fire) caused statistically significant, psychopathological changes in the victims (the first investigation). The changes concerned the worsening of the picture of oneself and an increase in the intensity of negative emotions (anxiety, depressiveness, aggression). All these changes still exist, despite the time which passed since the traumatic event (the repeated investigations).