Background: The victims of terrorist attacks have a lower level of mental health than general population. However this effects has been only demonstrated in short term after the terrorist attack.
Methods: 2998 people from 544 families who have suffered a terrorist attacks. General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) as a psychopathological screening was used in 1094 people. This sample was divided in direct victims (DV), direct victims' relatives (DVR) and people who meet these two conditions (DVRDV).
Results: 39.6% of the sample were probable psychiatric cases. Psychiatric prevalence was higher in DRVDV (54.5%) and DV (52.0%) than in DRV and general population (10-25%). The sample presented worse level of mental health than the general population in short term (0-2 years) (DVR 40%, DV 66.7%, DRVDR 75%) and in long term 18-20 años) (DVR 35.70%, DV 37%, DRVDR 37.5%).
Conclusion: Both those suffering a terrorist attack as well as their family members have worse levels of mental health than the general population in both the short and long term.