FOLLOW-UP SURVEY OF THE SPECIAL UNIT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTENTION AT SUMMA 112 AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON 11TH MARCH IN MADRID

Abstract

The Special Unit of Psychological Attention at SUMMA 112 carried out a medium-term follow-up survey with a 350 subjects sample three months after the terrorist attacks on 11th March 2004 in Madrid, and the results are presented in this paper. Method: A protocol designed ad hoc by the Unit, and the TOP-8 and TQ scales were administered by telephone. Results: In our sample of 350 individuals (66 percent were women) 53 percent of respondents were victims, 27 percent direct witnesses, and 19 per-cent indirect witnesses of the attacks. During the follow-up 33 percent of the total sample showed Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (66 percent were victims). 32 percent of people who answered the questionnaire received mental assistance one week after the terrorist attacks. A high number of respondents (82 percent) indicated a reduction of their initial symptoms during the survey, those which urged them to call SUMMA 112 emer-gency numbers in the first moments after the attacks. Conclusion: These results show the consequences on people of a traumatic event and the relevance of immediate and close assistance in psychological crisis intervention in order to diminish the negative effects.