Thank you for your interest in "Coping with the Stress of the Terrorist Attacks" study (David Spiegel, MD, Principal Investigator, Lisa D. Butler, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator). We completed collection of the 6-month follow-up assessments on May 19th, 2002.

At present we are continuing to conduct statistical analyses, write-ups, and submissions of findings for publication. We apologize for the time it takes to get results into press, but that is the nature of the research enterprise. Additionally, because we are seeking publication in scientific journals, we must follow their policies of not publishing results on our website prior to official journal publication -- and that can take some time. We appreciate your understanding and patience!

Below we list our past and upcoming publications and presentations related to the study. Abstracts and summaries of results are included as they are available. Links and/or PDF files will also be included when available.

Many thanks to all those who participated in the study.

Publications

Azarow, J., Manley, M. J., Koopman, C., Platt-Ross, A., Butler, L. D., & Spiegel, D. (2003). American expressions of altruism and generativity in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. [Special Issue: The U.S.A. after 9/11/01]. Psicologia Politica, 27, 37-58.

Abstract: This study examines expressions of altruism and generativity in narratives written by United States citizens and residents in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Altruism refers to concern and behavior on behalf of another's well-being that is not motivated primarily by anticipated benefit, while generativity (Erikson, 1950) denotes concern for and commitment to the well-being of the next and future generations. The study's aims were to: characterize the kinds of altruistic and generative concerns and behavior expressed in narratives collected at baseline and six-month follow-up; explore possible changes in their salience over time; and determine whether expression of these prosocial concerns in the narratives was associated with authors' political orientation. Participants included 137 persons. Political orientation was not related to mentions of altruism or generativity; these concerns were expressed to a comparable degree across respondents of diverse political orientations.

For a reprint of this article, please email us at coping@stanford.edu.

Butler, L. D., Seagraves, D. A., Desjardins, J. C., Azarow, J., Hastings, T. A., Garlan, R. W., DiMiceli, S., Winzelberg, A., & Spiegel, D. (2002). How to launch a national Internet-based panel study fast - Lessons from studying how Americans are coping with the September 11, 2001, tragedy. CNS Spectrums, 7(5), 597-603.

Abstract: This article reports on the planning, development, and implementation of a large national Internet-based panel study of how Americans are coping with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The study was designed to determine predictors and correlates of risk and resilience, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In order to acquire timely and meaningful data, we developed/ adapted an extensive set of measures, obtained human subjects approval, and posted a research Web site just 17 days after the attacks. This article describes the major hurdles we confronted and the guidelines we recommend regarding these topics, including the methodological trade-offs inherent in Internet-based research, information technology requirements and tribulations, human subjects issues, selection of measures and securing permission for their use, and the challenges of participant recruitment. We also discuss issues that we did not anticipate, including the survey intervention. We focus not on findings, but on the concrete procedural, administrative, technical, and scientific challenges we encountered and the solutions we devised under considerable time and resource pressures.

For a reprint of this article, please email us at coping@stanford.edu.

Spiegel, D. & Butler, L. D. (2002). Acute stress in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Canadian Psychiatric Association Bulletin, 34(4), 29-32.

Abstract: This article reviews psychological responses to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We describe acute stress reactions, including disruption in affect, cognition and social support. We discuss factors that predict the development of later posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with current Internet-based research on September 11 stress responses. We also discuss the natural tendencies for people to reach out to social, religious and group support, which offer therapeutic opportunities. In addition, components of effective therapeutic interventions are talked about, and we review basic psychopharmacology of acute stress response.

For a PDF copy of this article, please go to: http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/Bulletin/2002/august/ptsdSpiegel.pdf

Publications in Press

Butler, L. D., Garlan, R. W., & Spiegel, D. (in press, expected 2005). Virtual 9/11: Managing terror in an electronic era. In Y. Danieli & R. Dingman (Eds.), On the ground after September 11: Mental health responses and practical knowledge gained. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

Publications under Review

Butler, L. D., Blasey, C. M., Azarow, J., McCaslin, S., Garlan, R. W., Chen, X. H., Desjardins, J. C., DiMiceli, S., Seagraves, D. A., Hastings, T. A., Kraemer, H. C., & Spiegel, D. (under review). Posttraumatic growth following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: Cognitive, coping, and trauma symptom predictors of posttraumatic growth in an Internet convenience sample.

Butler, L. D., Koopman, C., Azarow, J., Blasey, C. M., Desjardins, J. C., Dimiceli, S., Seagraves, D. J., Hastings, T. A., Chen, X. H., Kraemer, H. C., & Spiegel, D. (under review). Psychosocial predictors of resilience following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Presentations

Butler, L. D., Blasey, C. M., Koopman, C., Azarow, J., Garlan, R. W., Chen, X. H., Henderson, S. L., & Spiegel, D. (November 2004). Predictors of thriving following 9/11/01. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.

Azarow, J., Koopman, C., Manley, M.J., & Butler, L.D. (May 2004). What's love got to do with it: Altruism, generativity, and spirituality in the aftermath of 9/11. Compassionate Love Research Conference. The Institute for Unlimited Love and The Fetzer Institute. Washington, DC.

Butler, L. D., Koopman, C., Azarow, J., DiMiceli, S., & Spiegel, D. (August 2003). Predictors of long-term resiliency following the terrorist attacks: Preliminary results. Paper presented in the "Terror and Trauma: Contemporary Research" session, C. A. Porter, Chair, at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Koopman, C., Butler, L. D, Azarow, J., & Spiegel, D. (July 2003). Factors associated with resilience after terrorist attacks of 9/11. Annual Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Boston, Massachusetts.

Butler, L. D., Azarow, J., Desjardins, J. C., Koopman, C., DiMiceli, S., & Spiegel, D. (May 2003). Psychosocial predictors of resiliency in coping with the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Paper presented in the "The Psychological Impact of 9/11/01: Results from Five Major Studies" symposium, L. D. Butler, Chair, at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, CA.

Spiegel, D. & Butler, L. D. (January 2003). Taming terror: Managing our emotional responses to the September 11 attacks. Grand Rounds presented to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Butler, L. D., Azarow, J., Desjardins, J. C., Hastings, T. A. & Spiegel, D. (November 2002). Distress and resiliency in coping with the tragedy of 9/11/01 - Preliminary findings. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD.

Spiegel, D., Butler, L. D., Azarow, J., Koopman, C., DiMiceli, S. & McCaslin, S. (August 2002). Distress and coping after the terrorist attacks: Preliminary Internet survey results. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Koopman, C., Butler, L. D., Azarow, J., Desjardins, J.C., DiMiceli, S., & Spiegel, D. (July 2002). Posttraumatic Stress and Growth in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. In "Public Terror and Violence and Its Impact on Witnesses and Participants" (symposium). Annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Berlin, Germany.

If you have any questions about the study, please email us at coping@stanford.edu.

Updated January 6, 2005