Mass violence and early mental health intervention: a proposed application of best practice guidelines to chemical, biological, and radiological attacks.
Based on past episodes, there will be psychological sequelae to chemical, biological, and radiological attacks. Some of the psychological morbidity should be able to be ameliorated through planning and appropriate early intervention. Key components of early intervention are illustrated following a hypothetical scenario of a bomb and anthrax threat near the Pentagon. Many of these components, such as monitoring clear, consistent messages about health risks, are provided by physicians or politicians, not mental health providers, but have a serious impact on the mental health of the population. We hope that this scenario and the principles of response will prove useful to planners of emergency preparedness and responders in the case of an actual attack.
Ritchie
Elspeth Cameron
EC
Department of Psychiatry, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Friedman
Matthew
M
Watson
Patricia
P
Ursano
Robert
R
Wessely
Simon
S
Flynn
Brian
B
D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000523:psychology; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000523:psychology; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D009689:Nuclear Warfare / Q000523:psychology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D023481:Terrorism / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence