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A controlled follow-up study of adolescents exposed to a school shooting – Psychological consequences after four months

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

L. Suomalainen ,
H. Haravuori ,
N. Berg ,
O. Kiviruusu  and
M. Marttunen
L. Suomalainen*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare (MIPO/LAMI), PO Box 30, 00271Helsinki, Finland Helsinki University and Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
H. Haravuori
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare (MIPO/LAMI), PO Box 30, 00271Helsinki, Finland Kellokoski Hospital, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland
N. Berg
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare (MIPO/LAMI), PO Box 30, 00271Helsinki, Finland
O. Kiviruusu
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare (MIPO/LAMI), PO Box 30, 00271Helsinki, Finland
M. Marttunen
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare (MIPO/LAMI), PO Box 30, 00271Helsinki, Finland Helsinki University and Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 20 610 6000; fax: +358 20 610 7191. E-mail address: laura.suomalainen@hus.fi (L. Suomalainen).
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Abstract

Background

In November 2007, a student shot eight people and himself at Jokela High School, Finland. This study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of exposure to a school shooting among adolescents.

Method

Associations between psychological outcomes and background factors were analysed and compared with “comparison students” four months after the incident. A questionnaire including Impact of Event Scale (IES) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-36) was used.

Results

Half of the females and a third of the males suffered from posttraumatic distress. High level of posttraumatic distress (IES ≥ 35), predicting PTSD, was observed in 27% of the females and 7% of the males. The odds ratio was 6.4 (95% confidence interval 3.5–10.5) for having high levels of posttraumatic distress. Severe or extreme exposure and female gender were found to increase the risk. Forty-two percent of the females and 16% of the males had psychiatric disturbance (GHQ ≥ 9). Severe or extreme exposure, older age and female gender increased the risk. Perceived support from family and friends was found to be protective.

Conclusions

The observed risk and protective factors were similar to earlier studies. Follow-up will be essential in identifying factors predicting persisting trauma-related symptoms in adolescence.

Keywords

AdolescentsSchool violenceTraumaPosttraumatic stress disorderPTSD
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 26 , Issue 8 , November 2011 , pp. 490 - 497
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2011

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