This chapter begins with a brief effort to put modern terrorism in context. Thereafter, the chapter is divided into two main sections. The first deals with psychological issues involved in understanding the perpetrators of terrorism, including their motivations and strategies. The second deals with the U.S. response to terrorism, including issues of fear and identity shift in reaction to the events of September 11, 2001. I argue that both origins and effects of terrorist acts are anchored in group dynamics. Along the way I try to suggest how the response to terrorism can be more dangerous than the terrorists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Terrorism has psychological and social effects. The emotional and behavioral responses to disasters occur in four phases. Psychological responses to terrorism may include acute stress disorder, PTSD, and other clinical diagnosis. Studies indicate that in the year following terrorist incidents, the prevalence of PTSD in directly affected populations varies between 12% and 16% but it may also decline 25% over the course of that year. There are several vulnerability factors for developing PTSD after a trauma. As known not all subject develop PTSD symptoms after trauma. Those factors are presence of childhood trauma, some personality disorders, inadequate family or peer support, being female, genetic vulnerability or psychiatric illness, recent stressful life changes, recent excessive alcohol intake, and perception of an external locus of control. PTSD is usually accompanied with another axis 1 disorder. The most common comorbid disorders are; (a) alcohol abuse, (b) substance abuse (c) depression (d) anxiety disorders (especially phobia and panic disorder) (e) personality disorders (especially antisocial and borderline personality disorders). Some biological parameters are related with PTSD. Yetkin investigated 25 PTSD subjects at Gülhane Military Medical Academy Department of Psychiatry. PTSD patients had decreased sleep efficiency, decreased total sleep time, reduced stages 4 sleep, decreased REM latency, increased sleep latency and waking during sleep in comparison to the control subjects. Heart rate in sleep stages were significantly elevated In PTSD subjects and there were not any difference between stages. The number of brain imaging studies in PTSD has increased in the last years. Studies can be classified as structural, functional, and receptor imaging studies. The structural pathological main sites are hippocampus, parahipocampal gyrus, and amygdala. Functional imaging studies revealed that hyperactive or altered function of emotion response brain regions, such

Aim of this report is to determine the main kinds of consequences of PTSD of terrorism victims on individual, social levels and from economic point of view. The most dimensioned terrorist acts which have been committed in Russia from 1994 till 2005 were included in this study. PTSD of terrorists attack victims are defined as the grave medico-social problem. It's noted that different specialists (clinicians, psychologists, sociologists, and economists) have to take part in investigation of this problem. The main levels of consequences of PTSD are picked out. Author gives main recommendations for elaboration of special complex program for reduction of these kinds of consequences. It is stressed, that determination of the main kinds of after-effects of terrorism victims PTSD, working out of approaches to assess of the scale of burden in these cases, can give an opportunity to elaborate of special complex program for reduction of these grave consequences. [Author Abstract] KEY WORDS: terrorists attacks; PTSD; after effects; social and economic burden

On September 11, 2001, thousands perished when terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The following month, anthrax was disseminated through the U.S. mail to the Capitol in Washington, and a news studio in New York, resulting in 11 cases each of cutaneous and inhalational anthrax, with 6 of the latter fatal. This paper will address the lessons learned from the aftermath of these incidents, so that we may be better prepared for future terrorist acts. Among the most salient lessons from 9/11 is that it is critical to establish clear lines of communication (since phone service may be unreliable), avenues of evacuation to medical facilities (since gridlock rapidly ensues), and command structure (since jurisdiction may be ambiguous). The many lessons from the anthrax attacks include the clinical signs distinguishing anthrax from influenza and other viral illnesses, and the survival benefits from prompt treatment with multiple antibiotics. Most notable of all, the psychological effects of each incident proved to be more durable and widespread than the immediate physical consequences. In addition to delineating lessons learned from the immediate aftermath of the incidents, we also address the most significant ways to enhance the education of health care providers so they can more effectively diagnose and treat patients exposed to terrorist attacks. [Author Abstract] KEY WORDS: terrorism; bioterrorism; disaster response; posttraumatic stress; anthrax; medical education

Terrorism adds a new, unique, and challenging dimension to the hazards faced by contemporary protective services organizations and their members and consequently contributes substantially to the risk of acute stress and posttraumatic stress faced by officers. It is possible, however, to develop a proactive approach to managing this risk. The application of the risk management paradigm to managing stress associated with terrorist events affords an opportunity to confront a priori assumptions regarding posttraumatic stress outcomes. Knowledge of the relationship between the psychologically challenging characteristics of acts of terrorism and the individual and organizational resources mobilized to deal with them can be used to identify those aspects of this relationship about which choices can be made. This constitutes the basis of the risk assessment process. Acting on these choices is risk management. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

This chapter explores what is currently known about how terrorism impacts victims in unique and probably more profound ways than other forms of catastrophic disaster, builds a theoretical framework that explores the way in which terrorism specifically impacts traumatization and recovery, and considers the effective treatment of victims of and first responders to terrorist attacks. From these starting points, we then identify the particular skills that constitute expertise in this arena, an approach that contrasts with the more common procedure of evaluating one's expertise on the basis of training, experience, and knowledge. The objective of these considerations is to question the nature of expertise and training that might be advantageous for those who treat the victims of terrorist attacks. The comprehensive view of terrorism and related trauma presented here form a foundation for the creation of expertise that may be central for mental health professionals working in this field. Such a foundation of knowledge should begin to guide both clinical practice and research. [Text, p. 33]

Charles Perrow is famous worldwide for his ideas about normal accidents, the notion that multiple and unexpected failures--catastrophes waiting to happen--are built into our society's complex systems. In The Next Catastrophe, he offers crucial insights into how to make us safer, proposing a bold new way of thinking about disaster preparedness. Perrow argues that rather than laying exclusive emphasis on protecting targets, we should reduce their size to minimize damage and diminish their attractiveness to terrorists. He focuses on three causes of disaster--natural, organizational, and deliberate--and shows that our best hope lies in the deconcentration of high-risk populations, corporate power, and critical infrastructures such as electric energy, computer systems, and the chemical and food industries. Perrow reveals how the threat of catastrophe is on the rise, whether from terrorism, natural disasters, or industrial accidents. Along the way, he gives us the first comprehensive history of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security and examines why these agencies are so ill equipped to protect us. The Next Catastrophe is a penetrating reassessment of the very real dangers we face today and what we must do to confront them. Written in a highly accessible style by a systems-behavior expert, this book is essential reading for the twenty-first century. The events of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina--and the devastating human toll they wrought--were only the beginning. When the next big disaster comes, will we be ready? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: jacket)

The past decade has witnessed a dramatic transformation in the nature and use of terrorism. These changes have brought into high relief the need for better psychological and social responses to terrorism and man-made disasters. It is important to note that a major strategic intent of modern terrorists is to create huge numbers of secondary psychological casualties by means of large-scale physical attacks. The catastrophic acts of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath have forced military, medical, and psychological experts to reevaluate their understanding of mass casualty terrorism. Given the relative newness of the discipline, we believe there is a great need for a text that covers aspects of psychology relevant to terrorism. This book will present the goals of the various conferences and groups that have sought to define this newly emerging area. Within these chapters we present the newest findings on treatment and clinical response protocols. We also explore the theory and history of terrorism and examine the larger cultural and social psychological dimensions of this new field. The authors of the subsequent chapters also explore a wide range of subjects, such as the role of national, state, and local agencies and volunteer groups in responding to terrorist threats, military response, psychological consequences of terrorism, special populations, prevention, training, and research. The hope is that this volume can fill the need for a comprehensive resource for mental health clinicians, medical care providers, researchers, educators, and others who respond to acts of terrorism. The primary audience will be mental health and primary care providers (specifically, psychologists, psychiatrists, emergency and primary care physicians, crisis intervention counselors, social workers, public sector nonprofit agencies such as the Red Cross, and undergraduate and graduate-level college and university students. However, we also believe that there will be an important second

This paper reviews the findings of several studies on the economic and psychological impact of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC, and identifies common themes and important similarities (as well as key differences) from this research literature that inform our understanding of national resilience. The paper then examines some of the ways in which the U.S. has responded to 9/11 in terms of preparing our communities for future terrorist attacks. While federal, state, and local authorities have held numerous preparatory exercises, this analysis argues that it is a mistake to rely solely on the government to deal with the immediate impact of terrorist attacks. Community education and empowerment must play a prominent role in any comprehensive homeland security strategy. Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) initiatives have been developed throughout the United States to do just that, and provide an important model for other countries who seek to build resilience in their communities. Further, in our efforts to do so, there is much the U.S. can learn from the experiences of other nations who have faced terrorist attacks for many years, including Colombia, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Turkey. Finally, this analysis concludes that leadership, preparation, communication, education, and the development of social capital are vital elements of any strategy for building community resilience in an age of terrorism. [Author Abstract] KEY WORDS: resilience; terrorism; psyhology; preparation; education; social capital

Victims of terrorism are subject to severe stress and disruption and may manifest a pattern of dissociative and anxiety/depression symptoms. The trauma may impair the person's quality of life and disrupt social and other functioning. If symptoms last beyond a month following the traumatic event, PTSD may ensue. These adverse effects do not always disappear with time. Crisis intervention is focused on ensuring safety and providing support, including assessment of coping resources and support networks. The role of early psychological debriefing to prevent psychopathology following a traumatic event is to detect individuals who require more complex intervention. The issues addressed in therapy include the need to correct unrealistic expectations, to deal with guilt and phobic reactions as well as family and network reorganization. Cognitive-behavioral treatments, such as exposure techniques or cognitive restructuring approaches, have been shown to work. At times, work with the family members may be necessary too. Considerable attention has been given to the development and delivery of support and treatment interventions but this has not been matched by a corresponding effort on evaluation. Many terrorists attacks cannot be prevented but the magnitude of their psychosocial impact can be reduced by better community preparedness and response. [Author Abstract] KEY WORDS: PTSD; victims of terrorism; treatment guidelines