Disability and posttraumatic stress disorder in disaster relief workers responding to September 11, 2001 World Trade Center disaster.
Empirical evidence suggests that social and occupational disability plays a significant role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to assess the role of social/occupational disability and to identify predictors of the development of PTSD in a group of disaster relief workers (DRWs) who had been deployed to the World Trade Center (WTC) following September 11, 2001. Eight hundred forty-two utility workers completed a battery of comprehensive tests measuring PTSD and social occupational functioning. Results indicated a significant association between PTSD symptoms and impaired social/occupational functioning. Symptomatic workers were also more likely to have a history of trauma, panic disorder, and depression. Those with a history of trauma, depression, generalized anxiety disorder or panic reported significantly more disability than those without a psychiatric history. Careful screening of PTSD and social/occupational functioning in DRWs following a disaster is warranted so that early treatment can be undertaken to prevent a chronic and disabling course.
Evans
Susan
S
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA. sue2002@med.cornell.edu
Patt
Ivy
I
Giosan
Cezar
C
Spielman
Lisa
L
Difede
JoAnn
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012066:Relief Work; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires