Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in victims of Tokyo subway attack: a 5-year follow-up study.
Sarin gas was dispersed in a Tokyo subway in 1995. This study investigates the mental and somatic symptoms of the 34 victims 5 years after the attack. Structured interviews (Clinician-Administered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [CAPS] and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and self-rating questionnaires were used to assess the symptoms. Not only post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also non-specific mental symptoms persisted in the victims at a high rate. A total of 11 victims were diagnosed with current or lifetime PTSD according to CAPS. Victims with PTSD showed higher anxiety levels and more visual memory impairment. A significant correlation between the total score of Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and CAPS was found, indicating that IES-R is a useful tool for evaluating PTSD.
Ohtani
Toshiyuki
T
Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Iwanami
Akira
A
Kasai
Kiyoto
K
Yamasue
Hidenori
H
Kato
Tadafumi
T
Sasaki
Tsukasa
T
Kato
Nobumasa
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012524:Sarin / Q000506:poisoning*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*; D014041:Tokyo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D012524:Sarin