Long-term psychopathology changes among the injured and members of the community after a massive terrorist attack

To document long-term prevalence trends and changes in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), current major depression (MD), agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder, in two groups of people with different levels of exposure to a massive terrorist attack.

Cohort study. Two random samples of people exposed to a terrorist attack, the injured (n=127) and community residents (n=485) were followed and assessed, 2 and 18 months after the event.

Among the injured, 2 and 18 months after the attack, the prevalences were respectively, PTSD: 44.1% and 34%, MD: 31.5% and 23.7%, agoraphobia: 23.8% and 20.7%, GAD: 13.4% and 12.4% and panic disorder: 9.4% and 11.3%. The corresponding figures among residents were PTSD: 12.3% and 3.5%, MD: 8.5% and 5.4%, agoraphobia: 10.5% and 8.7%, GAD: 8.6%, and 8.2% and panic disorder 2.1% and 2.7%.

Two months after the event, the prevalence of mental disorders among both injured and residents was higher than expected levels at baseline conditions. Eighteen months after the event, psychopathological conditions did not change significantly among the injured but returned to the expected baseline rates among community residents.