Correlates of Functional Impairment in Treatment-Seeking Survivors of Mass Terrorism

• Published in: Behavior therapy Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 39 - 49
• Main Authors: Malta, Loretta S, Levitt, Jill T, Martin, Allison, Davis, Lori, Cloitre, Marylene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; Elsevier; Academic Press
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affect - physiology; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical psychology; Emotional disorders; Employment; Female; Functional impairment; Helpseeking; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Life Change Events; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Moods; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; September 11 Terrorist Attacks - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivor; Survivors - psychology; Symptoms; Terrorism; Human; Affect affectivity; Help seeking; Terrorism; Survivor; Anxiety disorder; Emotion emotionality; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Symptomatology; Treatment; Psychological distress; Social interaction; Dysfunction; Self regulation; Expectation
• ISSN: 0005-7894; 1878-1888
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2007.12.007

Abstract This study sought to identify variables associated with functional impairment in persons exposed to terrorism. A sample of adults who sought treatment for psychological distress related to the 2001 World Trade Center attack completed standardized self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, expectancies of ability to regulate negative moods, interpersonal problems, and social-occupational impairment. A multiple regression analysis found that PTSD numbing symptoms, beliefs about the ability to regulate negative moods, feelings of social discomfort and expectations of being disliked, income level, and relationship status significantly predicted 58% of the variance in social-occupational impairment. The results suggest that treatments targeting PTSD numbing symptoms as well as maladaptive expectations about social interactions and one’s ability to manage negative affect may have utility for persons adversely affected by mass violence.