TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of peritraumatic reactions and PTSD following the September 11th terrorist attacks
AU - Lawyer, Steven R.
AU - Resnick, Heidi S.
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Ahern, Jennifer
AU - Kilpatrick, Dean G.
AU - Vlahov, David
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust, the Commonwealth Fund, the MetLife Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA14219–01S1), and the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH66081–010, T32 MH18869) of the National Institutes of Health.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - In this study the authors characterize peritraumatic reactions of residents of New York City during and immediately following the September 11th terrorist attacks, identify predictors of those reactions, and identify predictors of PTSD 4 months later. A cross-sectional sample of New York residents (n = 2,001) responded to questions about sociodemographics, historical factors, event-related exposure; acute cognitive, emotional, and physiological reactions to the September 11th terrorist attacks; and current (past month) PTSD symptoms. Factor analyses of peritraumatic reactions yielded three related, but distinct, peritraumatic response patterns - dissociation, emotional reactions, and panic/physiological arousal. Several demographic, historical, and exposure-related variables predicted one or more peritraumatic reaction patterns. After controlling for demographic, historical, and exposure factors, each of the peritraumatic reactions factors, one historical factor and one event-related exposure factor remained as significant predictors of PTSD. These results support a growing literature concerning the predictive value of peritraumatic reactions in relation to PTSD. Implications for preventive efforts and suggestions for future research are discussed.
AB - In this study the authors characterize peritraumatic reactions of residents of New York City during and immediately following the September 11th terrorist attacks, identify predictors of those reactions, and identify predictors of PTSD 4 months later. A cross-sectional sample of New York residents (n = 2,001) responded to questions about sociodemographics, historical factors, event-related exposure; acute cognitive, emotional, and physiological reactions to the September 11th terrorist attacks; and current (past month) PTSD symptoms. Factor analyses of peritraumatic reactions yielded three related, but distinct, peritraumatic response patterns - dissociation, emotional reactions, and panic/physiological arousal. Several demographic, historical, and exposure-related variables predicted one or more peritraumatic reaction patterns. After controlling for demographic, historical, and exposure factors, each of the peritraumatic reactions factors, one historical factor and one event-related exposure factor remained as significant predictors of PTSD. These results support a growing literature concerning the predictive value of peritraumatic reactions in relation to PTSD. Implications for preventive efforts and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1521/psyc.2006.69.2.130
DO - 10.1521/psyc.2006.69.2.130
M3 - Article
C2 - 16822192
AN - SCOPUS:33746800185
VL - 69
SP - 130
EP - 141
JO - Psychiatry
JF - Psychiatry
SN - 0033-2747
IS - 2
ER -