Coping with terrorism: The OPM-SANG experience.

Author: Applewhite, L., Dickins, C.

Source:
Military Medicine, Vol 162(4), Apr 1997: 240-243.
Presents the findings of a mental health team that intervened with a unit after a terrorist car-bombing which happened in front of the main office building housing the Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program. Contact with 52 of the individuals wounded in the attack revealed a distinct pattern of psychosocial disturbance. 10 Ss reported sleep disturbances, 9 Ss indicated experiencing concern for their families' safety or for their own personal safety, and 7 Ss had become hypervigilant or cautious in their daily activities. Seven Ss expressed sadness or a mildly depressed mood, 5 Ss found themselves being irritable, and 5 Ss admitted to experiencing guilt over believing that they had not done enough to help others or for having survived the attack. Only 2 Ss admitted to having flashbacks or intrusive thoughts related to the blast. Most enlightening, however, are the characteristics described by many as having facilitated the development of effective coping and adaptation. The value of incorporating critical incident debriefings and command consultation by mental health professionals into a comprehensive counterterrorist program is underscored.