Psychological effects of the marathon bombing on Boston-area veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Journal of Traumatic Stress
Mark W MillerAnnemarie F Reardon

Abstract

This study examined the psychological impact of the Boston Marathon bombing using data from an ongoing longitudinal study of Boston-area veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; N = 71). Participants were assessed by telephone within 1 week of the end of the event; 42.3% of participants reported being personally affected by the bombings and/or the manhunt that followed. The majority of them reported that the bombing reminded them of their own traumas and/or caused other emotional distress. Examination of change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from a prebombing assessment an average of 2 months earlier to 1 week after the event revealed no significant change in symptoms across the sample as a whole. However, examination of patterns of change at the individual level revealed significant correlations (r = .33; p = .005) between distress at the time of the event and change in total PTSD symptom severity, with this effect accounted for primarily by increases in intrusion and avoidance symptoms (rs = .35 and .31, ps = .002 and .008, respectively). Findings of this study should raise awareness of the potential impact of terror attacks, mass shootings, and other events of this type on the well-being of indivi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 15, 2015·Depression and Anxiety·M Alexandra Kredlow, Michael W Otto
Aug 21, 2015·Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health·Linda PiwowarczykAmy Shepherd
Apr 26, 2018·Acta neurologica Belgica·Harald De Cauwer, Francis J M P Somville

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