The Psychological Impact of September 11 Terrorism on Australian Inpatients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the psychological impact on Australian hospital patients of the media coverage of the September 11 (9/11) terrorist attack. Methods: Thirty psychiatry and 26 matched medical and surgical inpatients were assessed. Results: Both reported and observed distress was common. Women reported significantly more distress than men. Individuals with psychiatric illness were significantly more varied in their attribution of cause for 9/11. Seven patients (29%) with pre-existing psychosis became delusional surrounding the events, but there were no significant differences between the psychiatry and the medical and surgical inpatients. Conclusions: Clinical impressions were confirmed, namely, that a large proportion of hospital inpatients were adversely affected by TV footage of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Most vulnerable were those already with a mental disorder, particularly those with a pre-existing psychotic illness.