Women's Health

Anthrax Victims Suffering Long After Attacks

Bioterrorist Attacks Cause More Than Disease continued...

Reissman says the findings suggest that the psychological impact of the bioterrorist attacks may deserve more attention from health care providers rather than just the immediate physical effects.

"In the follow-up of these kinds of events," says Reissman, "It's very, very important for us to be including the functional, psychological, and behavioral response to them as a standard practice."

But Reissman says the study also suggests there is something that health care providers can do to lessen the impact of bioterrorist attacks. Potential interventions may include medications for specific PTSD-related symptoms as well as psychotherapy.

"There is a lot of good hope in terms of intervening with these individuals and returning them to a good quality of life," says Reissman.