Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and the substance use following September 11th

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Heather Marie Nevins (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Abstract: The terrible events that unfolded on September 11, 2001 affected the entire world, especially people in the United States. This study assessed symptoms and correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examined substance use following the attack. There were 210 participants from the NY, NJ, and Conn. areas surveyed on the beach 8- 10 months after 9/11. Participants were asked about their retrospective accounts and their current reports of symptoms and substance use. Results showed that people who were within a one-mile radius of the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9/11 had more frequent PTSD symptoms retrospectively and 8-10 months following the attack than people who were 45-60 miles away. There was a significant correlation between retrospective accounts of PTSD symptoms and substance use six months following 9/11. There was also a significant correlation between PTSD symptoms 8-10 months after 9/11 and substance use six months following 9/11. A t-test revealed that substance use in the six months after 9/11 was not significantly different from substance use in the six months before 9/11. Even 8-10 months after the terrorist’s attacks of September 11, 2001 participants reported considerable psychological imbalance.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
Post-traumatic stress disorder, September 11 Terrorist Attacks 2001, Stress (Psychology), Substance abuse
Subjects
September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Stress (Psychology)
Substance abuse

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