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Long-Term PTSD and Comorbidity with Depression Among World Trade Center Responders

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World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations

Abstract

This chapter explores the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in World Trade Center (WTC) responders. Rates of WTC-related PTSD varied depending on when and how the assessments were conducted. In the Stony Brook cohort, 17% developed PTSD during the first 13 years after the accident; half had active illness 11–13 years later. Consistent with clinical and epidemiologic research, several studies found that PTSD was associated with medical conditions and impaired functioning. PTSD was also highly comorbid with depression, and comorbidity was associated with very poor outcomes. In the Stony Brook cohort, the majority of responders with comorbid PTSD and depression were out of the workforce (65.2%), diagnosed with a WTC medical condition (81.9%), and had impairments in life satisfaction (83.2%), relationships with friend (52.4%), and social support (63.1%). The data support the need for continued monitoring and treatment of both conditions.

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Abbreviations

DSM-IV:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition

FDNY-WTC-MMP:

Fire Department of the City of New York World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program

MDD:

Major depressive disorder

NIOSH:

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

PCL:

Posttraumatic Symptom Checklist

PTSD:

Posttraumatic stress disorder

RIFT:

Range of Impaired Functioning Tool

SCID:

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV

WTC:

World Trade Center

WTC-HP:

World Trade Center Health Program

WTC-HR:

World Trade Center Health Registry

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Evelyn J. Bromet & Roman Kotov

  2. Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Benjamin J. Luft

Authors
  1. Evelyn J. Bromet
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  2. Roman Kotov
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  3. Benjamin J. Luft
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evelyn J. Bromet .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, CDC NIOSH U01 0H011308 “9/11 Trauma and Toxicity in Childhood: Longitudinal Health and Behavioral Outcomes”, New York, New York, USA

    Anthony M. Szema

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Bromet, E.J., Kotov, R., Luft, B.J. (2018). Long-Term PTSD and Comorbidity with Depression Among World Trade Center Responders. In: Szema, A. (eds) World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59371-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59372-2

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