A longitudinal follow-up study of rescue and recovery narratives of Oklahoma City bombing responders nearly a quarter century later.

Background: Most research examining first responders of terrorist incidents has been conducted in early post-disaster periods, utilized quantitative research methods, and focused on psychopathology such as post-traumatic stress.

Methods: Longitudinal follow-up assessments of 124 workers from 181 baseline volunteer rescue and recovery workers originally studied were completed nearly a quarter century after the terrorist bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Open-ended qualitative interviews were used in the follow-up study.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and amygdala volume in a community-based sample.

Most prior studies have reported decreased amygdala volume in those with a history of alcohol use disorder. Decreased amygdala volume associated with alcohol use disorder may be related to an increased risk of addiction and relapse. However, the relationship between amygdala volume and a broad range of alcohol consumption is largely unexplored.

Tobacco and Illicit Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders Among Employees of Businesses Affected by the 9/11 Attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Objective: To study the New York City area population after the September 11, 2001, 9/11 attacks, focusing on tobacco and drug use and drug use disorders. An abundance of research has identified the important mental health sequelae stemming from exposure to disasters, especially vulnerability to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). There also is a body of literature on the association of disaster exposure with alcohol use/misuse, but far less research on tobacco and other drug use/disorders.

A longitudinal study of Oklahoma City bombing rescue and recovery responders providing qualitative introspections of their experience nearly a quarter century later.

Background: The 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City provided a particularly useful research opportunity. It was the most severe incident of terrorism on American soil at the time. Prior research on rescue and recovery workers responding to such events has been largely limited to early post-disaster periods, most focusing on psychopathology such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Qualitative Longitudinal Study of Workplace Issues, Authorities and Media, and Relationships Recounted by Oklahoma City Bombing Survivors After Nearly a Quarter Century.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the long-term course of disaster-related experience among survivors of a terrorist bombing and the long-term recollection of initial workplace effects across nearly a quarter century.

Methods: From an initial randomly selected sample of highly trauma-exposed survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, 103 participated in qualitative open-ended interviews about their bombing experience approximately 23 years after disaster.

Results: The survivors described their bombing experience clearly with extensive detail and expression of persistent strong emotion.

A longitudinal study of housing status and crime in a homeless population.

Background: It is well established that homelessness is associated with crime. Previous research suggests that this association is at least partially secondary to homeless status offenses (eg, vagrancy and trespassing resulting from behaviors intrinsic to homelessness). To investigate this relationship, this study compared criminal behavior in a homeless population under housed and unhoused conditions.

Prospective Longitudinal Substance Use Patterns in Patients Preparing for Hepatitis C Treatment.

Objectives: This study prospectively examined the independent courses of alcohol, drugs, and smoking over 18 months in 154 patients preparing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in relation to functioning, negative coping, and satisfaction with quality of life in data collected from a randomized controlled trial of multiple-family group psychoeducation for patients preparing for HCV treatment. Patients with HCV who had consistent abstinence, consistent use, or achievement of abstinence after study entry were examined for outcomes pertaining to functioning in the context of HCV, negative coping, and satisfaction with quality of life.

Methods: Of 309 patients considering treatment for HCV recruited from outpatient clinics at two major university medical centers and a Veterans Affairs medical center for a randomized controlled trial of a psychoeducation intervention, 154 completed baseline, 6-month, and 18-month assessments.