U.S. gun violence survivors struggle with long-term trauma: study

Xinhua
27 May 2023, 02:30 GMT+10

NEW YORK, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A recent study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine highlights an under-recognized consequence of all the gun violence in the United States: the long-term mental trauma inflicted upon the most immediate survivors, those who are actually injured by guns.

By looking at data from 87 adults who had been injured by guns and visited trauma centers in midwestern cities, the researchers found that patients experienced heightened symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

"In particular, these survivors had a markedly worse quality of life than individuals who had not undergone those experiences," said news portal Salon in its report of the study.

As the authors wrote in the study, "Patients' health-related quality of life" had been poor at the outset, remained poor six months after the incidents and had remained "well below scores reported in previous studies of both injury populations and the general population."

"This study provides a picture of what the mental health experience is for firearm violence survivors early after being injured," Sydney Timmer-Murillo, a Health & Trauma Psychology Fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was quoted by Salon as saying.

"Our study provides evidence that firearm violence survivors report higher PTSD symptoms that remain high six months later. Additionally, their 'health-related quality of life,' or the impact that physical health has on their daily life, is poor after gun violence and continues to be poor," added Timmer-Murillo.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.

More Information

17 ℃

Mostly Cloudy in Sydney

International

Section

Japan: PM's son resigns for holding party at official residence

TOKYO, Japan: After coming under public criticism for using Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's residence for a private party, his ...

Remains identified of US pilot from Pennsylvania killed during WWII

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that 2nd Lt. James Litherland of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an Army ...

ACC sues Dr. Yunus, 12 others over embezzlement of $2,351,758

DHAKA, Bangladesh - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 13 members of Grameen Telecom's board of directors, ...

Washington coordinates 14-country supply chain agreement

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...

Injuries at Churchill Downs sees 12 horses dead in month

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: Two horses that succumbed to their injuries at Churchill Downs have become the 11th and 12th fatalities over ...

Musk's Neuralink to begin trial human brain implants

FREMONT, California: Brain implant company Neuralink announced that it has received approval from US regulators to begin human brain implant ...

Sydney

Section