NEW YORK, NY August 30, 2007 — The widest study to date suggests one in eight rescue and recovery workers still suffered psychological distress years after September 11th. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more. Earlier reports looked at specific groups, such as firefighters. The study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry looks at almost 30-thousand responders across many groups. About 12-percent reported symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, between the years 2003 and 2004, when the surveys were administered. Only about 6 percent of police officers described such symptoms, while more than 20 percent of volunteers said they were still suffering. Deputy Health Commissioner Lorna Thorpe says the study is only coming out now, it takes years to analyze this much data and many months to get research peer-reviewed. The Health Department is currently trying to do a second round of surveys for the long-term World Trade Center Health Registry, but many people are dropping out. The Registry has been controversial. Critics say in mapping out broad patterns of emerging illness, it does nothing to immediately help those who are ill. Officials say it serves an important purpose in both the long- and short-term, because researchers issue preliminary findings that people and policy-makers can use to help guide medical care. They also say that the Registry acts as a clearinghouse for those seeking treatment programs for physical and mental health problems. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.