Episodic Memories of 9/11 terror attack and Mental Health: Natural Language Processing of Adolescent and Adult Survivors' narratives (EMLAS study)

New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene, Inc, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract The mental health effects of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on adults first responders and survivors are well-documented, with elevated rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. However, less research has focused on how the 9/11 attacks impacted children and adolescents who were exposed to the trauma. While PTSD was less common in these younger populations, studies suggest they experienced heightened anxiety, particularly separation anxiety, and other emotional disturbances. Furthermore, the onset of symptoms in this age group often emerged later, highlighting the need to explore the delayed effects of trauma across developmental stages. Adolescence is a critical period of emotional, social, and cognitive development, and trauma during this time can disrupt these processes, leading to long-term impairments in executive function, emotional regulation, and memory. Therefore, adolescents may be more vulnerable to the enduring effects of trauma, which can manifest in adulthood through poor coping mechanisms, emotional blunting, identity challenges and mental health disorders. Given that the 9/11 attacks occurred nearly 25 years ago, we will use memory recollection as means to understand current mental health status of those who were adolescents at the time of 9/11 attack. Our approach is based on the understanding that traumatic memories are often encoded differently from non-traumatic ones due to the brain’s heightened stress response, making them difficult to forget and more emotionally charged. These memories play a critical role in shaping long-term mental health, contributing to conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, autobiographical memory, particularly in trauma, can be fragmented, emotionally intense, and less contextually anchored in younger individuals. The proposed research aims to use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyze the spoken narratives of 9/11 survivors, comparing those who were adolescents at the time of the attacks to adults. NLP has proven to be a powerful tool in mental health research, identifying linguistic and emotional markers indicative of psychological distress. By comparing 9/11 narratives with those related to more recent traumas, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when all participants were adults, we can assess how developmental stages at the time of trauma influence memory recall and how is related to current mental health. Ultimately, this research seeks to identify distinct narrative markers that correlate with mental health outcomes, contributing to the understanding of how trauma experienced at different developmental stages impacts long-term psychological well-being. This approach has the potential to inform future interventions, enabling more personalized targeted treatment for trauma survivors to improve mental health outcomes.