Wednesday, July 12, 2006
A Traumatic Reliving of 9/11
LITTLE FALLS, N.J., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- "World Trade Center," the upcoming movie from Oliver Stone, could induce high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder and re-traumatization, says former police officer, Franciscan Friar and now renowned police psychotherapist Peter Killeen.
It may qualify as an artistic response, but Oliver Stone's upcoming "World Trade Center" stands the risk of causing stress and post-traumatic stress disorder in many involved with the disaster.
"Visual and auditory stimuli act as triggers in the horrendous flashbacks associated with post-traumatic stress disorder," says Peter Killeen, a renowned police psychotherapist. "It happens often with war veterans, and the release of this movie could trigger similar disorders in survivors and others involved."
Stone's movie, to be released exactly a month before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, tells the story of two Port Authority officers, the last two survivors extracted from Ground Zero, as well as the heroic saga of their rescue. The movie stars, among others, Nicholas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Pena and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Killeen, who holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Masters in Theology, is a nationally recognized stress management therapist, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. When 9/11 happened, Killeen played an active role, working directly with the Port Authority police force, which suffered a loss of 37 officers. A former member of the Franciscan Order and close friend of Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., Fire Chaplain for the FDNY, who lost his life on 9/11, he currently serves as a consultant with police unions and federal agencies as a stress specialist.
Killeen's eclectic background in both healthcare and law enforcement makes him a much sought after talk show host. As host and producer of "The Police Connection Radio Show" and author of the political serial thriller "The Infidel Factor", he has been interviewed on many radio and television programs, including Court TV's "Crier Today", LETN (Law Enforcement Television Network), CNBC-TV, WOR Radio 710AM and NPR.
"My work with the police agencies, and my extensive experiences as a police psychotherapist, lead me to believe that the release of 'World Trade Center' runs the potential risk of re-traumatizing the already traumatized rescue workers, police officers and survivors," says Killeen. "These people have lived through the horrors of that day and the days that followed and will continue to carry those memories throughout their lifetime."
Contact:
Peter J. Killeen
27 East Main Street
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Phone: 973-819-8537
http://www.thepoliceconnection.org
pjkil@earthlink.net
It may qualify as an artistic response, but Oliver Stone's upcoming "World Trade Center" stands the risk of causing stress and post-traumatic stress disorder in many involved with the disaster.
"Visual and auditory stimuli act as triggers in the horrendous flashbacks associated with post-traumatic stress disorder," says Peter Killeen, a renowned police psychotherapist. "It happens often with war veterans, and the release of this movie could trigger similar disorders in survivors and others involved."
Stone's movie, to be released exactly a month before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, tells the story of two Port Authority officers, the last two survivors extracted from Ground Zero, as well as the heroic saga of their rescue. The movie stars, among others, Nicholas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Pena and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Killeen, who holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Masters in Theology, is a nationally recognized stress management therapist, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. When 9/11 happened, Killeen played an active role, working directly with the Port Authority police force, which suffered a loss of 37 officers. A former member of the Franciscan Order and close friend of Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., Fire Chaplain for the FDNY, who lost his life on 9/11, he currently serves as a consultant with police unions and federal agencies as a stress specialist.
Killeen's eclectic background in both healthcare and law enforcement makes him a much sought after talk show host. As host and producer of "The Police Connection Radio Show" and author of the political serial thriller "The Infidel Factor", he has been interviewed on many radio and television programs, including Court TV's "Crier Today", LETN (Law Enforcement Television Network), CNBC-TV, WOR Radio 710AM and NPR.
"My work with the police agencies, and my extensive experiences as a police psychotherapist, lead me to believe that the release of 'World Trade Center' runs the potential risk of re-traumatizing the already traumatized rescue workers, police officers and survivors," says Killeen. "These people have lived through the horrors of that day and the days that followed and will continue to carry those memories throughout their lifetime."
Contact:
Peter J. Killeen
27 East Main Street
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Phone: 973-819-8537
http://www.thepoliceconnection.org
pjkil@earthlink.net
# posted by "Faces of the Brave" @ 6:19 PM 
