Medical Utilization, Psychotropic Prescriptions, and Somatic Complaints in Israel During the Second Intifada: An Ecological Study of the Impact of Stress.

In this ecological study we examine the impact of stress from repeated terrorist attacks during the second initifada on medical utilization by the Israeli population. We hypothesize that in weeks following serious terror attacks there will be an increase in prescriptions for psychiatric medications and an increased number of unexplained somatic complaints. We will also examine associations with overall medical utlization. We will consider age, gender and effects of geographic poximity to location of attacks.