Psychiatric Patients More Emotionally Distressed After 9/11

Dateline: May 29, 2002

People with psychiatric disorders may be particularly vulnerable to developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks, a new study finds. The study, conducted in the weeks following the attacks, found that 33 percent of psychiatric patients showed significant symptoms of PTSD.

Researchers at Brown University conducted the study at Rhode Island Hospital's outpatient facilities. Participants were 221 psychiatric patients and 87 medical patients. Psychiatric patients were being treated at the hospital for a number of conditions, including depression, mood disorders, anxiety (non-PTSD), and other conditions.

While 33 percent of the psychiatric patients reported significant trauma-related symptoms in the weeks following the September 11 attacks, 13 percent of the medical (non-psychiatric) patients showed these kinds of symptoms. At the time of this study, the national average for PTSD in US adults was 3.6 percent in any given year.

Why might psychiatric patients be at increased risk for developing PTSD symptoms? The Brown University researchers have a number of hypotheses, but further study is necessary. Their suggestions include the following:

• Poor coping skills
• Lack of social support
• Less psychologically resilient
• More biologically vulnerable
• More likely to report psychiatric symptoms

Additionally, the researchers point out, previous studies have shown a higher risk for stress-related symptoms in people who identified with the victims or who otherwise felt the traumatic event was personal, even if they were indirectly exposed to the event. The researchers suggest that people with existing psychiatric disorders may be more susceptible to identifying with traumatic events in this way.

One positive finding of the study was that psychiatric patients were more likely to want to talk with their physicians about the terrorist attacks. Those with PTSD symptoms were more likely to make appointments with their physicians to discuss these symptoms along with concerns that the attacks may have worsened their existing condition. Communication and support are important steps in finding treatment and overcoming these kinds of problems.

On the other hand, it's important to note that a significant number of the medical patients also experienced PTSD symptoms. While the national average for PTSD in the U.S. is 3.6 percent, 13 percent of those surveyed in this study experienced trauma-related symptoms. These patients may not have been as likely to speak with a doctor about their symptoms as the psychiatric patients. "Our suggestion to doctors is to talk with all patients about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks whether or not those patients say they are experiencing distressing symptoms," said Laurel Franklin, the study's lead investigator, in a press release.

The researchers presented their findings the at May 20, 2002, Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. They are conducting additional research into why psychiatric patients are more vulnerable, which psychiatric patients are more vulnerable, and which patients are continuing to experience distress.

Reference: Turner, S. "Terror aftermath tough on psychiatric patients, study shows." May 20, 2002.