This chapter is aimed at reviewing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
after terrorist attacks. The data and results of a meta-analysis by DiMaggio and Galea
[1] were reviewed and its conclusions were qualified, upgraded and extended with the
results from new studies and new analyses. After terrorist attacks, 18-40% of direct
victims will develop PTSD, whereas the percentage of indirect victims with PTSD will
be lower, but nonetheless above its habitual prevalence in the general population. At
one year of terrorist attacks, a significant reduction of PTSD can be expected in the
affected community and in the emergency and rescue personnel, but not in the injured
victims and in the friends and relatives of the injured and mortal victims. The
implications of these results for the psychological treatment of terrorism victims are
discussed.
Keywords: Mental health, Narrative literature review, Post-traumatic stress
disorder, Terrorism, Victims.
