19 research outputs found
Alcohol Drinking Problems Among New York City Residents after the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
Recent studies have shown an increase in alcohol use in New York City in the months
after the September 11 terrorist attacks; thus far there have been no studies documenting
changes in drinking problems. In 2002, a random digit dial phone survey was conducted
of residents of New York City. This study provided us with estimates of the prevalence of
alcohol drinking problems among residents of New York City 6 months after September
11 compared with the 6 months before September 11. Among 1,570 adults, the prevalence
of drinking problems was 3.7% in the 6 months before September 11 and 4.2% in the
6 months after September 11. The incidence of drinking problems among those without
drinking problems before September 11 was 2.2%. Persons with incident drinking
problems were more likely than those without to report symptoms consistent with
posttraumatic stress disorder (17.4% vs. 0.4% in those without drinking problems
and 1.4% in nondrinkers), and depression (23.5% vs 5.6% vs. 4.9%, respectively) after
September 11. After a disaster, a link between drinking problems and posttraumatic
stress disorder or depression should be assessed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40250/2/vlahov_alcohol drinking problems among NYC residents_2006.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
Was There Unmet Mental Health Need After the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks?
Background This study examined the
use of professionals for mental health problems
among New York City residents who were directly
affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center (WTC) or had a probable
diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or
depression in its aftermath. Correlates of help seeking
from professionals for mental health problems after
the attacks and barriers to care were also assessed.
Method Data were from a random digit dial telephone
survey of 2,752 adults representative of the
Greater New York Metropolitan area conducted
6 months after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Results Fifteen percent of those directly affected and
36% of those with probable PTSD or depression
sought help from a professional for a mental health
problem after the attacks. There was little new utilization
of professionals for mental health problems
after the attacks among persons who were not already
receiving care prior to September 11. Barriers that
prevented people from seeking help for mental health
problems 6 months after the September 11 attacks
included traditional barriers to care (e.g., cost) and
barriers that are unique to the post-disaster context
(e.g., the belief that others need the services more
than oneself). Conclusions This study suggests that
there was potential unmet mental health need in New
York City 6 months after the September 11 attacks on
the WTC, but these findings should be tempered by
research showing an apparent decrease in populationrates
of PTSD. In the aftermath of a disaster, interventions
should target persons with mental health
needs who were not previously seeking help from a
professional for a mental health problem.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40299/2/Stuber_Was There Unmet Mental Health Need_2006.pd