PTSD Symptoms Triggered Among Some Boston-area Veterans Following Bombings

The Boston Marathon bombings earlier this year triggered flashbacks and other psychological effects in some Boston-area military veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers found.

Published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, the report highlights the heavy toll such events take on those with pre-existing psychological conditions, even if they weren't present at the event.

The researchers, from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the US Department of Veteran's Affairs National Center for PTSD, used data from an ongoing study of Boston area veterans diagnosed with the condition, following up with 71 individuals one week after the bombing via phone. Doing so allowed them to compare symptoms from roughly two months before the study to any experienced following the attack.

In all, 38 percent reported feeling emotionally distressed by the bombing and following lockdown. Of these individuals, the majority said the bombing triggered flashbacks and unwanted memories having to do with past traumas of their own.

"The effects felt by the veterans were likely due to thematic similarities between the Marathon explosions and the veterans' own traumatic combat experiences, especially for those deployed to recent conflicts characterized by attacks involving improvised explosive devices," said Mark Miller, associate professor at BUSM and a clinical research psychologist in the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Miller served as the study's principal investigator.

Overall, the researchers did not detect a marked change of symptoms between pre- and post-event data when examining the sample as whole. For those who did report being personally affected, however, there was a strong correlation between distress at the time of bombing and the shift of severity in PTSD symptoms.

Based on this, the researchers say health care systems should be prepared to respond to the needs of those even indirectly affected by any future such events.

"This study highlights the fact that tragic local and national events of this type can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals already suffering with PTSD," Miller said. "It is crucial that relevant healthcare organizations understand this phenomenon and be prepared in the wake of tragedy to care not only for those who are directly impacted, but also for those with preexisting psychological conditions, including our nation's veterans with PTSD."