title: Psychiatric disorders among victims of a courthouse shooting spree: a three-year follow-up study.
abstract: This study examined the longitudinal course of psychiatric sequelae of a mass shooting incident at a courthouse. A sample of 80 individuals was examined 6-8 weeks after the incident and 77 of these were reassessed one and three years later using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement. Only 5% of the study sample met criteria for PTSD after this incident. Universal distress, however, was evident as 96% of the respondents reported PTSD symptoms and 75% described the incident as "very upsetting." The need for intervention among symptomatic individuals not meeting diagnostic criteria should not be discounted as subdiagnostic distress may warrant specific intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of Missouri-St Louis, 63121-4499, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003376:Counseling; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*