title: Screening for generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in the wake of terrorist attacks: a study in primary care.
abstract: Little is known about the mental health impact of terrorism beyond posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The associations between exposure to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks in New York City and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms were examined in a sample of 929 primary care patients. After controlling for PTSD, depression, panic and substance use disorders, and pre-9/11 trauma, patients who screened positive (vs. negative) for GAD symptoms were roughly twice as likely to report having a loved one at the 9/11 disaster site, twice as likely to know someone who was killed by the attacks, and twice as likely to know someone who was involved with the rescue/recovery efforts after the disaster. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghafoori
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neria
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gameroff
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olfson
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lantigua
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: Myrna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weissman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011320:Primary Health Care; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult