Terrorism and Depression: An Overview

Abstract

Terrorist attacks can have a profound impact on people who are exposed to them. In this article, one such possible effect, depression, is described, based upon an overview of a number of studies. Risk factors and immunizing factors are addressed. All these factors are divided into four subgroups: direct/indirect exposure; gender and ethnicity, psychological factors and coping and genes. In the discussion it is stated that the variety of factors makes it difficult to form a connected view of the co-effect of factors on a given individual. It is proposed that case studies be conducted to identify more clearly the actual causal factors.