How much stress is needed to increase vulnerability to psychosis? A community assessment of psychic experiences (CAPE) evaluation 10 months after an earthquake in L'Aquila (Italy).

Since severe stress can induce mental disorder symptoms that interact with vulnerability factors, the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) was evaluated in a population of 419 young adults who survived an earthquake; results were compared to a database of 1,057 'non-exposed' subjects. Unexpectedly, earthquake survivors showed lower CAPE scores for 'small' to 'medium' effect size. Post-trauma positive changes or re-appraisal for successful adaptation may explain these findings.