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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2006.100057v1 97/12/2268    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hasin, D. S. Articles by Alderson, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hasin, D. S. Articles by Alderson, D. Related Collections Epidemiology Injury/Emergency Care/Violence Mental Health Alcohol Urban Health

Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, Katherine M. Keyes, MPH, Mark L. Hatzenbuehler, MS, Efrat A. Aharonovich, PhD and Donald Alderson, MS

Deborah S. Hasin is with the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, and Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. Katherine M. Keyes and Donald Alderson are with New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. At the time of the study, Mark L. Hatzenbuehler was with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. Efrat A. Aharonovich is with the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, Box 123, New York, NY 10032 (e-mail: dsh2{at}columbia.edu).

Objectives. We examined the effects of exposure to or interpersonal loss resulting from a terrorist attack on posttraumatic stress and alcohol consumption after we controlled for psychiatric history assessed before the attack.

Methods. At baseline (1991–1992) and at 1- and 10-year follow-ups, an adult community sample of drinkers living approximately 12 mi (19.2 km) from the World Trade Center were evaluated for alcohol dependence and major depression. Of this group, 82.2% were assessed regarding the impact of the September 11, 2001, attacks, including proximity to the World Trade Center, interpersonal loss, posttraumatic stress, and alcohol consumption.

Results. In regression models, interpersonal loss and past major depression, but not proximity to the World Trade Center, predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms. Proximity and past alcohol dependence, but not interpersonal loss, predicted high levels of post–September 11 alcohol consumption. Past alcohol dependence did not modify the proximity–drinking relationship, and past major depression did not modify the loss–posttraumatic stress relationship.

Conclusions. Participants’ responses to September 11 were specific to their type of exposure and not predetermined by their psychiatric history. A better understanding of responses to traumatic events should assist more-effective prevention and intervention efforts.