Community Mental Health Journal
Volume 38, Issue 6, 2002, Pages 459-474

Effects of prior trauma and age on posttraumatic stress symptoms in asian and middle eastern immigrants after terrorism in the community (Review)

Trautman R. , Tucker P.* , Pfefferbaum B. , Lensgraf S.J. , Doughty D.E. , Buksh A. , Miller P.D.
  • a Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
  • b Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States, Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, WP 3440, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3048, United States
  • c Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
  • d Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
  • e Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
  • f Private Practice, Edmond, OK, United States
  • g Dept. of Psychiat. and Behav. Sci., Univ. of OK Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States

Abstract

Forty-five adult Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants living in Oklahoma City at the time of the 1995 bombing were surveyed 1 1/2 to 2 years later as part of a disaster mental health outreach program. Demographic variables, physical and interpersonal exposure, initial physiologic and emotional responses to the bombing, and posttraumatic stress symptoms associated with this disaster and with earlier trauma were measured. Most participants had experienced prior trauma in their homeland. PTSD symptomatology from prior trauma was most predictive of initial physiologic and emotional response and of later bomb-related PTSD symptoms. Bomb-related PTSD symptoms increased with current age and were inversely related to age at the time of prior trauma. Results underscore the importance of providing long-term disaster assistance to immigrants with prior trauma.

Author Keywords

immigrants Terrorism Age posttraumatic stress disorder Bombing Prior trauma Posttraumatic stress symptoms

Index Keywords

immigrant Asian psychological aspect demography clinical feature mental health human Terrorism injury middle aged Asia Middle East controlled study measurement Time Factors Aged disaster ethnology United States Humans male female prediction Review questionnaire symptom scoring system Article emotion Questionnaires adult major clinical study posttraumatic stress disorder age Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Community-Institutional Relations public relations time health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036885747&doi=10.1023%2fA%3a1020828117698&partnerID=40&md5=39773967b38d96b292e5591f930f3289
DOI: 10.1023/A:1020828117698
ISSN: 00103853
Cited by: 38
Original Language: English