Psychosocial Aspects of Terrorism and Disaster Medicine (Out of Print)

Abstract

Abstract This online course provides useful information and tools to address patients' psychosocial responses to terrorist threats or attacks, as well as to help health care teams focus their responses in acute situations and fulfill leadership roles in communities. The modules emphasize the most common psychosocial stress responses to bioterrorism and disasters, including acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and bereavement, and subdiagnostic distress. The modules utilize the virtual patient format, which has been shown to be as effective as live standardized patients in improving clinical skills, knowledge, and diagnostic ability. After completing this course, participants should have a better understanding of the psychosocial vulnerabilities of communities to bioterrorist attacks. They should be able to use screening tools to diagnose psychosocial disorders following terrorist events or disasters, as well as understand best practices in the management of patients with psychosocial disorders. Ideally, participants will be able to experience greater comfort in communicating with the community and the media after a disaster or terrorist event.

Keywords

• Depression
• Disaster
• Bioterrorism
• Post-Traumatic
• Psychosocial Stress
• Distress