A controlled follow-up study of adolescents exposed to a school shooting – Psychological consequences after four months

BackgroundIn November 2007, a student shot eight people and himself at Jokela High School, Finland. This study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of exposure to a school shooting among adolescents.MethodAssociations between psychological outcomes and background factors were analysed and compared with “comparison students” four months after the incident. A questionnaire including Impact of Event Scale (IES) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-36) was used.ResultsHalf of the females and a third of the males suffered from posttraumatic distress. High level of posttraumatic distress (IES ≥ 35), predicting PTSD, was observed in 27% of the females and 7% of the males. The odds ratio was 6.4 (95% confidence interval 3.5–10.5) for having high levels of posttraumatic distress. Severe or extreme exposure and female gender were found to increase the risk. Forty-two percent of the females and 16% of the males had psychiatric disturbance (GHQ ≥ 9). Severe or extreme exposure, older age and female gender increased the risk. Perceived support from family and friends was found to be protective.ConclusionsThe observed risk and protective factors were similar to earlier studies. Follow-up will be essential in identifying factors predicting persisting trauma-related symptoms in adolescence.