Citation

Holloway HC, Norwood AE, Fullerton CS, Engel CC, Ursano RJ. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1997; 278(5): 425-427.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md 20814, USA. hhollowa@usuhs.mil

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9244335

Abstract

The microbial world is mysterious, threatening, and frightening to most people. The stressors associated with a biological terrorist attack could create high numbers of acute and potentially chronic psychiatric casualties who must be recognized, diagnosed, and treated to facilitate triage and medical care. Media communications, planning for quarantine and decontamination, and the role of community leaders are important to the mitigation of psychological consequences. Physicians will need to accurately diagnose anxiety, depression, bereavement, and organic brain syndromes to provide treatment, reassurance, and the relief of pain.

Language: en