A mental health program for ground zero rescue and recovery workers: Cases and observations

Craig L. Katz, Rebecca Smith, Marsha Silverton, Anastasia Holmes, Carlos Bravo, Kristina Jones, Marta Kiliman, Norma Lopez, Laune Malkoff, Kathryn Marrone, Alla Neuman, Tricia Stephens, Wendy Tavarez, Anne Yarowsky, Stephen Levin, Robin Herbert

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Clinical vignettes from the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Mental Health Monitoring and Treatment Program at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City are presented. The hospital-based program pairs mental health screenings with federally funded occupational medical screenings to identify persons with mental health problems related to their rescue and recovery roles. The program also provides on-site mental health treatment. The cases illustrate the diverse mental health needs of the rescue and recovery workers, some of whom initially sought treatment years after September 11, 2001. The cases show that in addition to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, workers experienced survivor guilt, distressing memories of childhood trauma, shame associated with intense feelings, substance abuse relapse, psychosis, and problems with family relationships.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1335-1338
Number of pages4
JournalPsychiatric Services
Volume57
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2006

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A mental health program for ground zero rescue and recovery workers: Cases and observations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this