The effects of indirect eposure to September 11th-related trauma on cardiovascular reactivity

Direct and indirect exposure to trauma is related to cardiovascular reactivity to stress, which is a marker for the future development of cardiovascular disease. The current study compared the effects of indirect exposure and no exposure (assessed via self-reports) to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on cardiovascular reactivity among a sample of 31 New Yorkers. Cardiovascular responses, measured every 2 minutes during baseline, a semistructured interview in which they relived a personally relevant aspect of the terrorist attack, and recovery periods revealed that the indirect exposure group had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure levels at baseline (p.01), task (p.05), and recovery (p.05) than the no exposure group. No differences in trauma symptoms were observed between the two groups. Results suggest that indirect exposure to a traumatic event may have an impact on physiological responses to stress.