Abstract
We conducted a follow-up assessment to assess the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression among Chinese immigrants after the World Trade Center attack. Sixty-five Chinese displaced workers who were originally interviewed in May 2002 were re-interviewed in March 2003. Whereas depression scores decreased over time, avergae PTSD scores remained unchanged. The trajectory of posttraumatic stress symptoms was more complex, with an increasing number of individuals who show no or little emotional health problems and another increasing group of individuals with exacerbated posttraumatic stress symptoms. Although the mean values of the re-experiencing and hypervigilance cluster did not change over time, the mean value of the avoidance/numbing cluster increased significantly from time 1 (M=4.60, SD=4.98) to time 2 (M=6.34, SD=4.24), (F1.61=5.69, P=.02). A higher proportion of subjects met diagnostic criteria of PTSD at time 2 (27%) than at time 1 (21%). The study highlights the importance of ongoing mental health surveillance of diverse cultural and linguistic groups after a major traumatic event.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Thiel de Bocanegra H, Brickman E. Mental health impact of the World Trade Center attacks on displaced Chinese workers. J Trauma Stress. 2004;17:55–62.
Southwick SM, Morgan CA, Darnell A, Bremner D. Trauma related symptoms in veterans of Operation Desert Storm: a 2-year follow up. Am J Psychiatry. 1995; 152:1150–1155.
Sprang G. Coping strategies and traumatic stress symptomatology following the Oklahoma city bombing. Soc Work Soc Sci Rev. 2000;8:207–218.
Arata C, Picou J, Johnson G, McNally T. Coping with technological disaster: an application of the conservation of resources model to Exxon Valdez oil spill. J Trauma Stress. 2004;13:23–39.
Baum A, Gatchel R, Schaffer M. Emotional, behavioral and physiological effects of chronic stress at Three Mile Island. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1983;51:565–572.
Bland S, O’Leary E, Farinaro E, Jossa F, Trevisan M. Long-term psychological effects of natural disasters. Psychosom Med. 1996;58:18–24.
Howard W, Loberiza F, Pfol B, Thorne P, Magpantay R, Woolson R. Initial results, reliability, and validity of a mental health survey of Mount Pinatubo disaster victims. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1999;187:661–672.
Nader K, Pynoos R, Fairbanks L, Frederick C. Children’s PTSD reactions one year after a sniper attack in their school. Am J Psychiatry. 1990;147:1526–1530.
Shwartz E, Kowalsky J. Posttraumatic stress disorder after a school shooting: effects of symptom threshold selection and diagnosis by DSM-III, DSM-III-R proposed DSM-IV. Am J Psychiatry. 1991;148:592–597.
Scott R, Brooks N, McKinlay W. Post-traumatic morbidity in a civilian community of litigants: a follow-up at 3 years. J Trauma Stress. 1995;8:403–417.
Bolton D, O’Ryan D, Udwin O, Boyle S, Yule W. The long-term psychological effects of a disaster experienced in adolescence: II. General psychopathology. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2000;41:513–523.
Brooks N, McKinlay W. Mental health consequences of the Lockerbie disaster. J Trauma Stress. 1992;5:527–543.
Davidson L, Baum A. Chronic stress and postraumatic stress disorders. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1986;54:303–308.
Durkin ME. Major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder following the Goalinga and Chile earthquakes: a cross-cultural comparison. J Soc Behav Pers. 1993;8:405–420.
Goenjian A, Pynoos R, Steinberg A, et al. Psychiatric comorbidity in chidren after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1995;34:1174–1184.
Blanchard E, Jones-Alexander J, Buckley T, Forneris C. Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist. Behav Res Ther. 1996;34:669–673.
Beck AT, Steer RA. Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation; 1993.
Norris F, Perilla J, Riad J, Kaniasty K, Lavizzo E. Stability and change in stress, resources and psychological distress following natural disaster: findings from Hurricane Andrew, Anxiety Stress Coping. 1999;12:363–396.
Chen H, Chung H, Chen T, Fang L, Chen JP. The emotional distress in a community after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Community Ment Health J. 2003;39:157–165.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The time of the study, Dr. Thiel de Bocanegra was vice president for Research and Evaluation at Safe Horizon
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thiel de Bocanegra, H., Moskalenko, S. & Chan, P. PTSD and depression among displaced Chinese workers after the world trade center attack: A follow-up study. J Urban Health 82, 364–369 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jti074
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jti074