London Bombings: Guardian Journos Disorientated

There was a contradictory and confusing article in The Guardian yesterday about the psychological after-effects on the survivors of the London bombings. We are encouraged to provide support but Dr Reddy tells us that counselling is probably not necessary as:

"...less than 5% of survivors and witnesses of the tube and bus bombings were likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

While on the other hand Dr Thompson says,

"...one would predict that 40% will find their reactions haven't returned to normal in the next few weeks."

In which case:

"They will probably feel anxious, depressed, suffer nightmares or flashbacks and generally be much more fearful - making it very difficult to carry on with the normal things in life."

And the article finishes with the information that:

"Dr Stephen Joseph, reader in health psychology at the University of Warwick, sounded a positive note for the longer-term. The psychologist said between 30 and 70% of survivors of traumatic events reported positive after-effects."

Well that's all alright then isn't it? I may have just witnessed a horrific bomb blast but at least there's a fair chance that my life will improve over the long-term.
The Guardian
More on London bombings: Profile of a Terrorist, Why We Are Glued To The TV and The Psychology of Terrorism

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2 comments

  1. Russell says:
    July 10, 2005 at 1:55 am

    PTSD is not diagnosed until one month after the traumatic event is witnessed. If you have symptoms immediately after the event, but they do not last at least one month, then you are suffering from acute stress disorder.

    If the symptoms continue after a month, and remit before three months time, then you had acute PTSD. If they continue longer than three months, then you have chronic PTSD. If no symptoms are exhibited until six months after the event, then you have delayed-onset PTSD. These time differences are mostly arbitrary since the symptoms are similar across each, of course.

    However, the new trend of "critical incidence debriefing" in which people are given therapy and counselling directly after a horrific event, can actually cause PTSD rates to increase. If people had been left alone many of them would have had symptoms that would have remitted within a shorter time period had they not been forced to undergo such immediate treatment. So, mandatory treatment or suggesting that treatment is very very important right after the event is bad advice.

    I should dig up the reference to that information, but I'm not at work and don't have access to PsycInfo right now.

  2. Jeremy (PsyBlog author) says:
    July 10, 2005 at 11:59 am

    Thanks for that clarification Russell - very useful. Here's a news story backing up what you say and also addressing survivor guilt.

    Another article hints at the psychological training received by those engaged in the grisly task of recovering bodies from the tunnell.

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