Abstract
Emergency physicians are likely to be first-line responders in any local or regional
terrorist event. In addition to preparing for the potential physical conditions and
injuries that are associated with terrorism, they should be aware of the behavioral
and mental health implications as well. It is helpful to be familiar with the characteristics
that predict who may be at increased risk for mental illness after such events and
how they may be identified in an Emergency Department setting. Although most people
in the general population with behavioral conditions stemming from a terrorist event
can be expected to recover spontaneously within several months, other individuals
are at increased risk of developing more debilitating mental health conditions that
have been associated with post-terrorist and disaster environments. Screening tools
are available to help emergency practitioners identify them and refer patients for
more formal psychiatric evaluation and potential interventions to facilitate and speed
the recovery process.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 10, 2007
Accepted:
March 10,
2007
Received in revised form:
October 20,
2006
Received:
May 21,
2006
Footnotes
Funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Protection Research Initiative grant number 1 K01 CE000494-02.
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
