title: A focus group study of the impact of trauma exposure in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Much of the mental health research that has emerged from the September 11 (9/11) attacks has been focused on posttraumatic stress disorder and its symptoms. To better understand the broader experience of individuals following a disaster, focus groups were conducted with individuals from affected companies both at Ground Zero and elsewhere in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one focus groups with a total of 140 participants were conducted in the second post-9/11 year. Areas of identified concern were coded into the following themes: Disaster Experience, Emotional Responses, Workplace Issues, Coping, and Issues of Public Concern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discussions of focus groups included material represented in all five themes in companies both at Ground Zero and elsewhere. The emphasis and the content within these themes varied between the Ground Zero and other companies. Content suggesting symptoms of PTSD represented only a minority of the material, especially in the company groups not at Ground Zero.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study's findings revealed an array of psychosocial concerns following the 9/11 attacks among employees of companies in New York City that extended far beyond PTSD. This study's results provide further evidence that trauma exposure is central to individuals' post-disaster experience and focus, and to individuals' adjustment and experience after disaster.
authors.affiliation: VA North Texas Health Care System, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas, TX, 75216, USA, carol.north@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Carissa J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Barney
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pollio
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult