Psychological Effects of the Marathon Bombing on Boston-Area Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study examined the psychological impact of the Boston Marathon bombing using data from an ongoing longitudinal study of Boston‐area veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; N = 71). Participants were assessed by telephone within 1 week of the end of the event; 42.3% of participants reported being personally affected by the bombings and/or the manhunt that followed. The majority of them reported that the bombing reminded them of their own traumas and/or caused other emotional distress. Examination of change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from a prebombing assessment an average of 2 months earlier to 1 week after the event revealed no significant change in symptoms across the sample as a whole. However, examination of patterns of change at the individual level revealed significant correlations (r = .33; p = .005) between distress at the time of the event and change in total PTSD symptom severity, with this effect accounted for primarily by increases in intrusion and avoidance symptoms (rs = .35 and .31, ps = .002 and .008, respectively). Findings of this study should raise awareness of the potential impact of terror attacks, mass shootings, and other events of this type on the well‐being of individuals with histories of trauma and/or pre‐existing PTSD. Traditional and Simplified Chinese s by AsianSTSS 標題 : 波士頓區域居住而患有創傷後壓力症的退役兵面對馬拉松炸彈襲擊後的心理反應 撮要 : 本研究使用一個進行中的波士頓區域患有創傷後壓力症(PTSD)(N = 71) 退役軍人縱向研究的數據，以檢視波士頓馬拉松炸彈襲擊的心理遺害。在事件發生的一週內，我們以電話訪問及評估他們，其中42.3%受炸彈事件及/或搜捕兇徒行動影響身心。大多數人士被炸彈事件勾起個人創傷回憶及/或引致其他情緖困擾。總體而言，在炸彈事件平均兩個月前至一週後PTSD症狀的變化在統計學上未有明顯有效的變動。我們檢視變更模式，在個人層面上可見事件發生時的困擾和全部PTSD症狀嚴重度的變更在統計學上有效相連(r = .33；p = .005)，主因是「入侵」和「迴避」症狀的增加(分別是rs = .35和.31，ps = .002和.008) 。研究成果指出：對有創傷病史+/‐PTSD患者而言，恐怖襲擊、槍擊羣眾事件和其他同類事件會有重大影響。 标题 : 波士顿区域居住而患有创伤后压力症的退役兵面对马拉松炸弹袭击后的心理反应 撮要 : 本研究使用一个进行中的波士顿区域患有创伤后压力症(PTSD)(N = 71) 退役军人纵向研究的数据，以检视波士顿马拉松炸弹袭击的心理遗害。在事件发生的一周内，我们以电话访问及评估他们，其中42.3%受炸弹事件及/或搜捕凶徒行动影响身心。大多数人士被炸弹事件勾起个人创伤回忆及/或引致其他情緖困扰。总体而言，在炸弹事件平均两个月前至一周后PTSD症状的变化在统计学上未有明显有效的变动。我们检视变更模式，在个人层面上可见事件发生时的困扰和全部PTSD症状严重度的变更在统计学上有效相连(r = .33；p = .005)，主因是「入侵」和「回避」症状的增加(分别是rs = .35和.31，ps = .002和.008) 。研究成果指出：对有创伤病史+/‐PTSD患者而言，恐怖袭击、枪击群众事件和其他同类事件会有重大影响。