Summary

This new book follows on from Ursano et al.'s earlier title Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster to expand the focus on terrorism as a particular type of disaster. There is widespread belief amongst professionals that terrorism (and torture) produce the highest rates of psychiatric sequelae of all the types of disaster. The traumatic effects of terrorism are also not limited to the direct victims only; they extend to families, helpers, communities and even regions far from the affected site. The editors have assembled the world's experts to examine the effects of terrorism, assessing lessons learned from recent atrocities such as 9/11, the Tokyo sarin attack, Omagh, et cetera. They look at issues of prevention, individual and organizational intervention, the effect of leadership, the effects of technological disasters and bioterrorism/contamination. This is essential reading for all professionals working in trauma and disaster planning.