Echoes of 9-11, Part 1

The July issue of the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease includes the results of a study examining the psychological impact of the World Trade Center Disaster in residents of New York City.  In a two-part survey of 2,368 respondents administered one and two years after the disaster, key risk factors for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms were identified including age, gender, negative life events, and level of self-esteem.  Cases of immediate and delayed PTSD were found to differ both in terms of incidence of negative life events, ethnic background, and changes in self-esteem over time.  The researchers conclude that psychosocial context can play an important role in dealing with community disasters and traumatic stress. 

The abstract for the study can be found here.  The full-text version is also available.