Disability and posttraumatic stress disorder in disaster relief workers responding to september 11, 2001 World Trade Center Disaster

✍ Scribed by Susan Evans; Ivy Patt; Cezar Giosan; Lisa Spielman; JoAnn Difede

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 120 KB
• Volume: 65
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20575

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests that social and occupational disability plays a significant role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to assess the role of social/occupational disability and to identify predictors of the development of PTSD in a group of disaster relief workers (DRWs) who had been deployed to the World Trade Center (WTC) following September 11, 2001. Eight hundred forty‐two utility workers completed a battery of comprehensive tests measuring PTSD and social occupational functioning. Results indicated a significant association between PTSD symptoms and impaired social/occupational functioning. Symptomatic workers were also more likely to have a history of trauma, panic disorder, and depression. Those with a history of trauma, depression, generalized anxiety disorder or panic reported significantly more disability than those without a psychiatric history. Careful screening of PTSD and social/occupational functioning in DRWs following a disaster is warranted so that early treatment can be undertaken to prevent a chronic and disabling course. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–11, 2009.