Body handlers after terrorism in Oklahoma City: predictors of posttraumatic stress and other symptoms.
Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were assessed in 51 body handlers after Oklahoma City's 1995 terrorist bombing. Although many handlers were inexperienced and knew someone killed, symptoms were low postdisaster and decreased significantly after 1 year. Higher symptomatology and seeking mental health treatment correlated with increases in alcohol use and new physical problems but not with demographics, exposure, or experience. Four respondents with the highest posttraumatic stress symptoms at both time points reported high physical and alcohol use problems and mental health treatment use, suggesting that these should be carefully assessed in body handlers postdisaster. Coping techniques are described, as well as possible reasons for unexpected resilience in the majority.
Tucker
Phebe
P
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73190-3048, USA. phebe-tucker@ouhsc.edu
Pfefferbaum
Betty
B
Doughty
Debby E
DE
Jones
Dan E
DE
Jordan
Fred B
FB
Nixon
Sara Jo
SJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009027:Mortuary Practice; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*