Table 1 Studies of major depression prevalence in victims of terrorist attacks

Abenhaim et al. (1992)

Between 4 months and 3 years after the attacks occurred in France between 1982 and 1987

254 victims

Self-report

15 items created ad hoc for this study and based on the DSM-III criteria

Questions addressed complaints such as feeling depressed, irritability, sadness, sexual difficulties, loss of appetite, or asthenia.

Current depression (past month)

13.3%

[10% men; 17.7% women] *

21.8% among the severely injured

8.5% among the mildly injured or uninjured

North et al. (1999)

6 months after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing

182 victims

Personal and telephone interview

Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS)/Disaster Supplement based on the DSM-III-R criteria[27]

__

22.5%

[13% men; 32% women] **

North (2005)

6 months after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing

Between 8 and 10 months after the attack in Nairobi, Kenya, 1998

182 victims from the Oklahoma City bombing

227 victims from the Nairobi attack

Personal and telephone interview in the Oklahoma City study

Personal interview in the Nairobi study

Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) based on the

DSM-IV criteria, with adjustments for cultural fit [28]

__

Oklahoma: 20.9%

[11.4% men; 29.8% women] **

Nairobi: 19.4%

[15.8% men; 23.6% women] *

Iruarrizaga et al. (2004)

1 month after the M-11 terrorist attacks in Madrid

117 direct victims

Telephone interview

SCID's major depressive

disorder (MDD) interview [30]

Diagnostic interview based on the DSM-IV-TR criteria

Current depression

31.3%

[19.1% men; 40% women] **

Gabriel et al. (2007)

5-12 weeks after the M-11 attacks

127 victims who requested medical assistance

Personal interview

Mini international neuropsychiatric interview

(MINI), Spanish version [29]

Diagnostic interview based on the DSM-IV

Current depression (last 15 days)

31.5% ^†

North (2001)

Follow-up 11 months after the study of North et al., 1999.

182 victims from the first assessment, 141 in the second

__

Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS)/Disaster Supplement based on the DSM-III-R criteria [27]

__

50% reduction in the prevalence of depression between 6 months and 1 year later ^†

Conejo-Galindo et al. (2008)

1, 6 and 12 months after the M-11 terrorist attacks in Madrid

56 victims who requested medical assistance

44 second assessment

42 third assessment

Personal interview carried out by psychiatrist

Mini international neuropsychiatric interview

(MINI), Spanish version [29]

Diagnostic interview based on the DSM-IV criteria

__

One month later: 28.6% ^†

6 months later: 22.7% ^†

12 months later: 28.6% ^†