A third of survivors of London bombings needed psychological help
Third of London bombing survivors needed help for post-traumatic stress, research finds
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Tuesday, 09, Mar 2010 03:05
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
A third of the survivors of the London bombings have needed treatment from psychologists for post-traumatic stress disorder.
In research published today, hundreds of those caught up in the 7/7 bombings sought help, according to a study in the Psychological Medicine journal.
However, only four per cent of them were referred by their GP for specialist treatment, it has been found.
The 2005 attacks killed 52 and injured 700 on London's transport network. The University College London, led by Professor Chris Brewin, said that in future it recommended that those involved in such disasters were proactively traced to ensure they received the most suitable treatment.
Prof Brewin said: "Many of the survivors complained that GPs often did not recognise or know how to treat their post-traumatic stress."
He added that mental health outreach programmes such as the one they set up after the London bombings should be featured in future plans for the aftermath of disasters or terrorist attacks.
"If this programme hadn't existed then there would be hundreds of people still suffering from post-traumatic stress or other psychological problems as a result of the 2005 terrorist attack," he said.