Ten Things Every Psychologist Should Know About Treating Psychological Disorders in Victims of Terrorism

Terrorism remains one of the most serious global problems, affecting a very large number of people, a signifi cant percentage of whom can suffer psychological disorders arising from a terrorist attack. The purpose of this article is to describe the current state of scientifi knowledge about these ps...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: García Vera, María Paz, Sanz Fernández, Jesús, Sanz García, Ana
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repository:Docta Complutense
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/8482
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/8482
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Terrorism victims
mental disorders
posttraumatic stress disorder
treatment
reviews
víctimas del terrorismo
trastornos mentales
trastorno de estrés postraumático
tratamiento
revisión
Psiquiatría
Psicología (Psicología)
Psicología clínica y psicodiagnóstico
3211 Psiquiatría
61 Psicología
6101 Patología
Description
Summary:Terrorism remains one of the most serious global problems, affecting a very large number of people, a signifi cant percentage of whom can suffer psychological disorders arising from a terrorist attack. The purpose of this article is to describe the current state of scientifi knowledge about these psychological disorders and their treatment. Method: Systematic narrative or meta-analytical reviews of the scientifi literature on the subject published between 2010 and 2020 were searched for in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and PTSDpubs. Results: The search located 16 systematic reviews whose findings were analyzed, leading to ten conclusions about the most common psychological disorders and their progression, the type and percentage of victims who will be most affected by them, and the most effective and useful treatments for those disorders during the various phases following an attack. Conclusions: After a terrorist attack, both direct and indirect victims will need shortand mid-term psychological care and follow up. Direct victims, the direct relatives of any deceased, and other victims signifi cantly exposed to the attack or its consequences, will also need long- and very long-term care and follow up. Currently, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies are the treatment of choice for victims in the rescue, recovery, and returnto-life phases.