title: The threat of biological weapons. Prophylaxis and mitigation of psychological and social consequences.
abstract: The microbial world is mysterious, threatening, and frightening to most people. The stressors associated with a biological terrorist attack could create high numbers of acute and potentially chronic psychiatric casualties who must be recognized, diagnosed, and treated to facilitate triage and medical care. Media communications, planning for quarantine and decontamination, and the role of community leaders are important to the mitigation of psychological consequences. Physicians will need to accurately diagnose anxiety, depression, bereavement, and organic brain syndromes to provide treatment, reassurance, and the relief of pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md 20814, USA. hhollowa@usuhs.mil
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Norwood
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ursano
mesh_terms: D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000523:psychology; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D011603:Psychophysiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014754:Violence