title: Internet-based intervention for mental health and substance use problems in disaster-affected populations: a pilot feasibility study.
abstract: Early interventions that reduce the societal burden of mental health problems in the aftermath of disasters and mass violence have the potential to be enormously valuable. Internet-based interventions can be delivered widely, efficiently, and at low cost and as such are of particular interest. We describe the development and feasibility analysis of an Internet-delivered intervention designed to address mental health and substance-related reactions in disaster-affected populations. Participants (n = 285) were recruited from a cohort of New York City-area residents that had been followed longitudinally in epidemiological research initiated 6 months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The intervention consisted of 7 modules: posttraumatic stress/panic, depression, generalized anxiety, alcohol use, marijuana use, drug use, and cigarette use. Feasibility data were promising and suggest the need for further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. ruggierk@music.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acierno
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Ayelet Meron
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruscio
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stasiewicz
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roffman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucuvalas
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control