Persistent physiological reactivity in a pilot study of partners of firefighters after a terrorist attack.
Twenty-four female partners of firefighters participating in recovery efforts associated with the 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City were assessed 43 to 44 months later. Disaster experiences, psychiatric diagnoses, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and autonomic reactivity in response to an interview about the bombing were examined. Most of the participants with postbombing disorders suffered from pre-existing conditions. The majority found the bombing a "terrible" or "shocking" experience. One participant met all DSM-III-R symptom group criteria for bombing-related posttraumatic stress disorder, and 40% met both B (intrusive re-experiencing) and D (hyperarousal) criteria. More than one half of the sample exhibited autonomic reactivity on at least one measurement. Those who met symptom group criterion D evidenced greater autonomic reactivity than those who did not, suggesting a link between self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms of arousal and biological manifestations. Thus, it may be important to assess partners of disaster recovery workers for mental health and physiological consequences related to their indirect exposure as these may persist years after the event, even in the absence of a diagnosable mental disorder.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Betty
B
Pfefferbaum
Phebe
P
Tucker
Carol S
CS
North
Haekyung
H
Jeon-Slaughter
Adrian T
AT
Kent
John K
JK
Schorr
Teddy G
TG
Wilson
Kenneth
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Bunch
D001601:Bereavement; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009825:Oklahoma; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018635:Rescue Work; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data