title: Mixed lateral preference and peritraumatic reactions to the World Trade Center attacks.
abstract: There is evidence that mixed lateral preference is a risk factor for developing more intense posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. However, no research has examined whether mixed-handed persons experience greater threat of loss of life and physical injury and more intense emotional reactions (terror, helplessness, horror) during peritraumatic exposure. This study compared the intensity of ratings of perceived threat to life and physical injury and emotional reactions among mixed-handed and fully right-handed mothers directly exposed to the World Trade Center attacks. Controlling for exposure, mixed-handed mothers reported more intense ratings, indicating that mixed lateral preference may be associated with greater peritraumatic emotional distress.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10028, USA. claude.chemtob@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Claude M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chemtob
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dugan
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abramovitz
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology