A study to measure and understand the psychological impacts of the attacks

The ESPA November 13 survey aims to assess the psychological impact and identify the support and care services available to those affected. It is part of a broader research program funded by the General Secretariat for Investment through the ANR and led by the CNRS and Inserm: the November 13 Program.

This two-phase survey will shed light on the long-term consequences for people who have experienced an attack, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that can emerge or persist in the years following the traumatic event. These findings are all the more valuable given that research on PTSD following terrorist acts remains limited.

The second phase of the Santé publique France ESPA 13 November study begins on November 16, 2020, and will last four months. It is open to all individuals exposed to the attacks of November 13, 2015, regardless of whether they participated in the first wave.

The objectives of this second wave of the survey, eagerly awaited by victims and frontline workers, will be:

• to assess the psychological and traumatic impact five years after the attacks, as well as, for those who have already participated, how this impact has evolved since 2016,

• to describe these individuals’ use of healthcare services since the events and to identify the associated factors.

“According to the results of the first wave conducted a few months after the attacks, nearly 37% of the civilians who responded were suffering from post-traumatic stress. Some did not seek care, particularly eyewitnesses. With this second wave, we will be able to see if the use of care has increased over time and describe the evolution of their mental health. This applies to civilians as well as first responders,” adds Dr. Philippe PIRARD, Medical Epidemiologist and Coordinator of the ESPA November 13 study.