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Post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms in victims of Tokyo subway attack: a 5‐year follow‐up study
Author(s) -
OHTANI TOSHIYUKI,
IWANAMI AKIRA,
KASAI KIYOTO,
YAMASUE HIDENORI,
KATO TADAFUMI,
SASAKI TSUKASA,
KATO NOBUMASA
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2004.01313.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , traumatic stress , anxiety , acute stress disorder , psychology , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , mini international neuropsychiatric interview , medicine
Sarin gas was dispersed in a Tokyo subway in 1995. This study investigates the mental and somatic symptoms of the 34 victims 5 years after the attack. Structured interviews (Clinician‐Administered Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder [CAPS] and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and self‐rating questionnaires were used to assess the symptoms. Not only post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also non‐specific mental symptoms persisted in the victims at a high rate. A total of 11 victims were diagnosed with current or lifetime PTSD according to CAPS. Victims with PTSD showed higher anxiety levels and more visual memory impairment. A significant correlation between the total score of Impact of Event Scale‐Revised (IES‐R) and CAPS was found, indicating that IES‐R is a useful tool for evaluating PTSD.