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.
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and the substance use following September 11th
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Created on 1/1/2009
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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