Implementation of evidence-based assessment, treatment, and research programs following the world trade center disaster on september 11, 2001

Abstract

This chapter details the development of an evidence-based clinical assessment and treatment program following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. This unprecedented disaster resulted in a large population of disaster workers in need of psychological assessment and sometimes treatment following their deployment to Ground Zero. Topics include an overview of what has now become the Weill Cornell Medical College Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies and the clinical and logistical challenges involved in establishing a large-scale psychological screening and treatment program for disaster workers following the September 11th attacks. We will describe the rapid development and implementation of a well-validated, standardized psychological screening protocol of clinical interviews and self-report measures and the provision of best practices-based prolonged exposure and cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for disaster workers and civilians with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, we will discuss our development of a novel line of research investigating the use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of WTC-related PTSD. The rationale in embarking on this area of inquiry, the details of developing this program, and the clinical research outcomes of our work will be described. Finally, an overview of the potential range of mental health problems in non-rescue disaster workers consequent to the WTC attacks, as well as the larger public health implications of our findings, will be discussed.