Abstract
Psychological reactions to the crash of a commercial airliner, resulting in the deaths of 145 people in San Diego in September of 1978, are presented. Emotional sequelae of the crash included psychophysiologic concomitants of stress (headaches, sleep disturbances, hyperventilation, nightmares, gastrointestinal disturbances), disorientation, depressive symptoms, phobias, emotional dyscontrol, obsessions and psychotic manifestations. In addition, there were re-emergences of reactions to past traumatic events. A full range of psychological defenses was mobilized to help deal with the stress. Universal themes expressed were the experience of loss of control and identification with the deceased. Brief crisis intervention techniques, which included ventilation, support, clarification, interpretation, and particularly education, appeared helpful.
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