DBs Across Country Use 9/11 As Education Opportunity

The district branches whose activities are discussed in this article were the ones that responded to an e-mail request from Psychiatric News for information about activities undertaken after their initial response to the events of September 11. (Activities undertaken by district branches immediately after the terrorist attacks were reported in the October 19 and November 2 issues.) Those district branches that could not respond by the deadline for this issue are invited to send their information by e-mail to [email protected].

There has been a surge of interest in mental health responses to trauma and disaster training and planning since September 11 by APA’s district branches.

“When we surveyed our members in March, many indicated they were interested in training and volunteering for mental health disaster work,” Marion Sherman, M.D., chair of the Ohio Psychiatric Association’s (OPA) Disaster Committee, told Psychiatric News.

Psychiatrists and licensed mental health professionals can take a one-day mental health disaster training course this fall that is being developed by a broad coalition of state agencies; associations representing pharmacists, nurses, and psychiatrists; and the American Red Cross, according to Sherman.

“We have seen a greater need for psychiatric services and psychoeducation since September 11,” said Sherman. “The tragedy affected indirect victims such as vulnerable patients, relatives, or previously traumatized individuals. The anthrax scares, evacuation drills, and new security measures have increased general anxiety. We have a renewed awareness that we need to be prepared for potential future disasters or terrorist events,” said Sherman.

The statewide coalition is implementing a system for credentialing Ohio physicians who complete the disaster-training course. “We are also drafting legislation to provide adequate liability coverage for disaster health care professionals,” said Sherman.

“Our goal for the upcoming anniversary is to continue to work with the media so useful information is presented to the public and not potentially retraumatizing information,” Sherman said.

Louisiana Sponsors Program

The Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association (LPMA) in March held a meeting on psychiatric responses to disasters. APA immediate past president Richard Harding, M.D., spoke about distinguishing normal responses to disasters in children from posttraumatic stress disorder, said LPMA executive committee member Harold Ginzburg, M.D. Irma Bland, M.D., regional administrator of the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Mental Health, talked about the role of the state mental health system in a disaster. Ginzburg discussed fears, phobias, anxiety, and PTSD after a disaster based on his experience treating patients with physical injuries and his 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Public Health Service.

“I see a lot of patients who have had industrial accidents. Southern Louisiana has a large number of chemical plants and oil refineries. Barges carry petroleum and related products up and down the river and sometimes have accidents,” said Ginzburg.

When a shipping worker is injured in an explosion on the job, for example, it results in a loss of employment, income, mobility, and self-esteem. This affects the entire family, who may need mental health counseling also, said Ginzburg.

“I and some of my colleagues treat active-duty firefighters and police officers and those who were retired from duty because of significant injuries that were traumatic. During therapy, many said they identified with their colleagues who assisted the victims of September 11. Some of them experienced increased psychiatric symptoms,” said Ginzburg.

Georgia Psychiatrists Focus on Trauma

The Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association (GPPA) devoted its August meeting to the topic of trauma. Jon Shaw, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine, spoke about the relationship of trauma to developmental and life experiences, and the psychological impact of aggressive violence on individuals living in high-violence areas, said Steve Jaffe, M.D., chair of the GPPA’s medical education committee in an interview.

Oklahoma DB Relied on Experience

Members of the Oklahoma Psychiatric Association responded quickly to the events of September 11 and have maintained that response throughout the past year.

“We have a coordinated disaster response in place that resulted from our experience with the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City and tornadoes and other natural disasters,” said Phebe Tucker, M.D., chair of the district branch’s Disaster Committee.

Arthur Rousseau, M.D., a member of APA’s Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disasters, organized an Internet chat room through a local television station and newspaper in May. “I responded to numerous questions for an hour and a half on mental health topics including trauma and disasters,” said Rousseau. “This was done during Mental Illness Awareness Month.”

Tucker recently contributed a chapter to the APA disaster committee’s handbook “Helping Adults Heal After a Disaster.” She and three other district branch members are representing the Oklahoma Psychiatric Association and the Oklahoma State Medical Association on the new Committee on Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. The other three district branch members are Barbara Masters, M.D., Amal Chakraburtty, M.D., and Betty Pfefferbaum, M.D., J.D.

“This committee of mental health clinicians and statewide administrators addresses the roles of various organizations in disaster mental health response, training, resource needs, and protocols and procedures for future disasters,” said Tucker. “Educational and disaster planning workshops are being planned.”

Workshops

Pfizer Pharmaceutical Inc. provided a grant to the Oklahoma district branch to hold workshops on trauma. “The first workshop held in June focused on PTSD. Two speakers—a rape victim and a firefighter—spoke about their personal traumatic experiences, and I gave an overview on PTSD. Between 75 and 100 people attended the workshop, and we are planning a second one in October,” said Rousseau.

“District branch members also continue to treat victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, many of whom had their symptoms exacerbated by recent acts of terrorism in the United States and internationally,” said Tucker. ▪