Individuals present in lower Manhattan during the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) disaster suffered from significant physical and psychological trauma. Studies of longitudinal psychological distress among those exposed to trauma have been limited to relatively short durations of follow-up among smaller samples.

The current study longitudinally assessed heterogeneity in trajectories of psychological distress among WTC Health Registry enrollees – a prospective cohort health study of responders, students, employees, passersby, and residents in the affected area (N = 30 839) – throughout a 15-year period following the WTC disaster. Rescue/recovery status and exposure to traumatic events of 9/11, as well as sociodemographic factors and health status, were assessed as risk factors for trajectories of psychological distress.

Five psychological distress trajectory groups were found: none-stable, low-stable, moderate-increasing, moderate-decreasing, and high-stable. Of the study sample, 78.2% were classified as belonging to the none-stable or low-stable groups. Female sex, being younger at the time of 9/11, lower education and income were associated with a higher probability of being in a greater distress trajectory group relative to the none-stable group. Greater exposure to traumatic events of 9/11 was associated with a higher probability of a greater distress trajectory, and community members (passerby, residents, and employees) were more likely to be in greater distress trajectory groups – especially in the moderate-increasing [odds ratios (OR) 2.31 (1.97–2.72)] and high-stable groups [OR 2.37 (1.81–3.09)] – compared to the none-stable group.

The current study illustrated the heterogeneity in psychological distress trajectories following the 9/11 WTC disaster, and identified potential avenues for intervention in future disasters.

在 9/11 世界贸易中心 (WTC) 灾难期间出现在曼哈顿下城的个人遭受了严重的身心创伤。对遭受创伤的人的纵向心理困扰的研究仅限于较小样本中相对较短的随访时间。

当前的研究纵向评估了世贸中心健康登记注册者心理困扰轨迹的异质性——一项针对受影响地区 (N = 30 839) 的响应者、学生、员工、路人和居民的前瞻性队列健康研究——贯穿15年世贸中心灾难之后。救援/恢复状态和 9/11 创伤事件的暴露，以及社会人口因素和健康状况，被评估为心理困扰轨迹的风险因素。

发现五个心理困扰轨迹组：不稳定、低稳定、中度增加、中度减少和高稳定。在研究样本中，78.2% 被归类为不稳定或低稳定组。相对于不稳定组，女性在 9/11 事件时更年轻、受教育程度和收入较低与处于更大痛苦轨迹组中的可能性更高有关。更多地接触 9/11 的创伤事件与更大的痛苦轨迹的可能性更高有关，社区成员（路人、居民和员工）更有可能处于更大的痛苦轨迹组中——尤其是在适度增加的 [优势比 (OR) 2.31 (1.97–2.72)] 和高稳定组 [OR 2.37 (1.81–3.09)] – 与不稳定组相比。

当前的研究说明了 9/11 世贸中心灾难后心理困扰轨迹的异质性，并确定了干预未来灾难的潜在途径。