Citation

Elhai JD, Jacobs GA, Kashdan TB, Dejong GL, Meyer DL, Frueh BC. Psychiatry Res. 2006; 143(1): 29-34.

Affiliation

Disaster Mental Health Institute, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street-SDU 114, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390, USA; Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2005.10.004

PMID

16712952

Abstract

In this article, we explored 1) the extent of mental health (MH) service use by American Red Cross disaster relief workers, both before (lifetime) and 1 year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and 2) demographic, disaster and MH variables predicting (1-year) post-September 11 MH service use in this population. A sample of 3015 Red Cross disaster workers was surveyed 1 year after the attacks, regarding demographic characteristics, MH service use before and since the attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Findings revealed that while 13.5% used MH services before the attacks, 10.7% used services after. Variables increasing the likelihood of MH service use after the attacks included the following: no previous MH treatment, younger age, being divorced/widowed, and higher PTSD intrusion or hyperarousal symptoms. Findings support other recent research on MH service use after the September 11 attacks.
Language: en