Trends in probable PTSD in firefighters exposed to the World Trade Center disaster, 2001-2010

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cohen HW ; Gustave J ; Hall CB ; Kelly KJ ; Lee R ; Prezant DJ ; Soo J ; Webber MP
• Description:
  Objective: We present the longest follow-up, to date, of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City firefighters who participated in the rescue/recovery effort. Methods: We examined data from 11 006 WTC-exposed firefighters who completed 40 672 questionnaires and reported estimates of probable PTSD by year from serial cross-sectional analyses. In longitudinal analyses, we used separate Cox models with data beginning from October 2, 2001, to identify variables associated with recovery from or delayed onset of probable PTSD. Results: The prevalence of probable PTSD was 7.4% by September 11, 2010, and continued to be associated with early arrival at the WTC towers during every year of analysis. An increasing number of aerodigestive symptoms (hazard ratio [HR] 0.89 per symptom, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-.93) and reporting a decrease in exercise, whether the result of health (HR 0.56 vs no change in exercise, 95% CI 0.41-.78) or other reasons (HR 0.76 vs no change in exercise, 95% CI 0.63-.92), were associated with a lower likelihood of recovery from probable PTSD. Arriving early at the WTC (HR 1.38 vs later WTC arrival, 95% CI 1.12-1.70), an increasing number of aerodigestive symptoms (HR 1.45 per symptom, 95% CI 1.40-1.51), and reporting an increase in alcohol intake since September 11, 2001 (HR 3.43 vs no increase in alcohol intake, 95% CI 2.67- 4.43) were associated with delayed onset of probable PTSD. Conclusions: Probable PTSD continues to be associated with early WTC arrival even 9 years after the terrorist attacks. Concurrent conditions and behaviors, such as respiratory symptoms, exercise, and alcohol use also play important roles in contributing to PTSD symptoms. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergency Responders Epidemiology Firefighters Mental Health Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: World Trade Center Emergency-responders Fire-fighters Firefighters Job-stress Mental-health Mental-stress Mental Health Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Psychological-effects Psychological-reactions Psychological-responses Psychological-stress Psychological Symptoms Risk-analysis Risk-factors Stress

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• ISSN:
  1935-7893
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041384
• Citation:
  Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2011 Sep; 5(Suppl 2):S197-S203
• Contact Point Address:
  Mayris P. Webber, Dr PH, Fire Department of the City of New York, Bureau of Health Services, 4N-1 9 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201
• Email:
  webberm@fdny.nyc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
• Supplement:
  2
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1e07a10f5ed231d30bf5c78e5fbd82079ab19c0d146cc8eab2c5a9c60472da71bf1a89f5c2153e9a52181662f5790f3afea1b4bdeac9b4c47ee590805937db3b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193965/cdc_193965_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 175.33 KB ]