Terrorist attacks and short-long time psychiatric morbidity
Keywords:
terrorism, terrorist attacks, mental health, longterm, primary victims, secondary victimsAbstract
Background. The victims of terrorist attacks have a lower level of mental health than general population. However this effects has been only demonstrated in short term after the terrorist attack.
Methods. 2998 people from 544 families who have suffered a terrorist attacks. General Health Questionaire-28 (GHQ-28) as a psychopathological screening was used in 1094 people. This sample was divided in direct victims (DV), direct victims’ relatives (DVR) and people who meet these two conditions (DVRDV).
Results. 39.6% of the sample were probable psychiatric cases. Psychiatric prevalence was higher in DRVDV (54.5%) and DV (52.0%) than in DRV and general popupalation (10-25%). The sample presented worse level of mental health than the general population in short term (0-2 years) (DVR 40%, DV 66.7%, DRVDR 75%) and in long term 18-20 años) (DVR 35.70%, DV 37%, DRVDR 37.5%).
Conclusion. Both those suffering a terrorist attack as well as their family members have worse levels of mental health than the general population in both the short and long term.
