The Epidemiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Disasters

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40328/2/Galea_The epidemiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder_2005.pd

The Social Epidemiology of Substance Use

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40326/2/Galea_The Social Epidemiology of Substance Use_2004.PD

Probable Cigarette Dependence, PTSD, and Depression after an Urban Disaster: Results from a Population Survey of New York City Residents 4 Months after September 11, 2001

Disaster exposure may exacerbate psychopathology and substance–related disorders. Four months after September 11, 2001, using random–digit dialing to contact a representative sample of adults (N = 2001) living in New York City, we assessed cigarette smoking and symptoms of probable cigarette dependence using measures from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Atotal of 36.8% of smokers reported increased cigarette use; 10.4% of respondents reported three or more symptoms of cigarette dependence and were considered cases of probable cigarette dependence based on DSM–IV criteria. Cases were more likely to report an increase in cigarette use since September 11 than non–cases (69.4% among cases vs. 2.2% among non–cases, p < 0.001). Cases were more likely to have probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than non–cases (18.1% vs. 5.7% for PTSD, p < 0.001; 23.6% vs. 6.0% for depression, p < 0.001). Increased cigarette use since September 11 was associated with probable PTSD among cases (23.4% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.011) and non–cases (15.1% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.034) but was associated with probable depression only among cases of probable cigarette dependence (28.3% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.027). This study showed the co–occurrence of probable cigarette dependence with increased cigarette use and the co–occurrence of probable cigarette dependence with probable PTSD and depression after September 11.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40293/2/Nandi_Probable Cigarette Dependence, PTSD, and Depression_2005.pd

Smoke before food: a tale of Baltimore City.

Not Availablehttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78572/1/FrancoNandi2007_AJPH.pd

Patterns and Predictors of Trajectories of Depression after an Urban Disaster

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64282/1/Nandi_Trajectories of Depression_2009.pd

What explains the association between neighborhood-level income inequality and the risk of fatal overdose in New York City?

Accidental drug overdose is a substantial cause of mortality for drug users. Using a multilevel case-control study we previously have shown that neighborhood-level income inequality may be an important determinant of overdose death independent of individual-level factors. Here we hypothesized that the level of environmental disorder, the level of police activity, and the quality of the built environment in a neighborhood mediate this association. Data from the New York City (NYC) Mayor’s Management Report, the NYC Police Department, and the NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey were used to define constructs for the level of environmental disorder, the level of police activity and the quality of the built environment, respectively. In multivariable models the odds of death due to drug overdose in neighborhoods in the top decile of income inequality compared to the most equitable neighborhoods decreased from 1.63 to 1.12 when adjusting for the three potential mediators. Path analyses show that the association between income inequality and the rate of drug overdose mortality was primarily explained by an indirect effect through the level of environmental disorder and the quality of the built environment in a neighborhood. Implications of these findings for the reduction of drug overdose mortality associated with the distribution of income are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40292/2/Nandi_What Explains the Association Between Neighborhood-Level_2006.pd

Job Loss, Unemployment, Work Stress, Job Satisfaction, and the Persistence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder One Year After the September 11 Attacks

The influence of unemployment and adverse work conditions on the course of psychopathology after a mass disaster is unclear. We recruited a representative sample of adults living in the New York City metropolitan area six months after the September 11 attacks and completed follow-up interviews on 71% of the baseline sample six months later (N = 1939). At follow-up, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) persisted in 42.7% of the 149 cases with PTSD at baseline. In multivariable models, unemployment at any time since baseline predicted PTSD persistence in the entire cohort (P = 0.02) and among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). High levels of perceived work stress predicted PTSD persistence among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). Persons unemployed in the aftermath of a disaster may be at risk for poor mental health in the long-term.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40294/2/Nandi_Job Loss, Unemploymet, Work Stress, Job Satisfation_2004.pd

Heroin and cocaine dependence and the risk of accidental non-fatal drug overdose

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48674/1/galea_heroin and cocaine dependence_2006.pd

Explaining racial disparities in incidence of and survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55494/1/galea_explaining racial disparities_2007.pd

Participant Reactions to Survey Research in the General Population After Terrorist Attacks

There remains concern that survey research after a disaster can precipitate or exacerbate distress among study participants. The authors surveyed 5,774 persons in three random-digit-dial telephone surveys of the general population of New York City conducted 1–2 months, 4–5 months, and 6–9 months after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Overall, 746 (12.9%) people who finished the surveys said that the survey questions were upsetting but only 57 (1.0% overall) were still upset at the end of the interview, and 19 (0.3%) wanted assistance from a counselor. Ten persons who did not finish the survey also received counselor assistance. Persons with mental health symptoms were more likely to find the survey questions emotionally upsetting as were participants who lacked salutary resources, including health insurance and a regular health care provider. Although relatively few of those interviewed found the survey assessment disturbing, the presence of a small number of respondents who wanted mental health assistance suggests the need for a mental health backup system for research conducted soon after exposure to large-scale traumatic events.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40338/2/Galea_Participant Reactions to Survey Research_2005.pd