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The World Trade Center attack: mental health needs and treatment implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Daniel B. Herman  and
Ezra S. Susser
Daniel B. Herman
Affiliation:
Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute
Ezra S. Susser
Affiliation:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and Department Head, Epidemiology of Brain Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute
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Abstract

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On 11 September 2001, the United States suffered the worst terrorist attacks in its history. In New York City, approximately 3000 persons were killed at the World Trade Center, while many thousands fled for their lives. Millions of other city residents observed the burning towers and breathed the acrid smoke that blanketed the city. Compounding the massive physical destruction and loss of life, the psychological impact of these terrifying events on the populace was profound – there were significant increases in mental distress and symptoms of disorder.

Type
Thematic Paper – Terrorism
Information
International Psychiatry , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , July 2003 , pp. 2 - 4
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits noncommercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2003

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