Stories behind the symptoms: a qualitative analysis of the narratives of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers.
A qualitative study of the experiences of rescue and recovery workers/volunteers at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 is reported. Information was extracted from a semi-structured clinical evaluation of 416 responders who were the initial participants in a large scale medical and mental health screening and treatment program for 9/11 responders. Qualitative analysis revealed themes that spanned four categories- occupational roles, exposures, attitudes/experiences, and outcomes related to the experience of Ground Zero. Themes included details regarding Ground Zero roles, grotesque experiences such as smells, the sense of the surreal nature of responding, and a turning to rituals to cope after leaving Ground Zero. These findings personalize the symptom reports and diagnoses that have resulted from the 9/11 responders' exposure to Ground Zero, yielding richer information than would otherwise be available for addressing the psychological dimensions of disasters. This work shows that large scale qualitative surveillance of trauma-exposed populations is both relevant and feasible.
Bills
Corey B
CB
Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Dodson
Nancy
N
Stellman
Jeanne M
JM
Southwick
Steven
S
Sharma
Vansh
V
Herbert
Robin
R
Moline
Jacqueline M
JM
Katz
Craig L
CL
D000328:Adult; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D018635:Rescue Work; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*