I think 9-11 was actually the first event when PSTD appeared in people who weren't directly involved in the situation.

Sure, it is controversial, but I think it's possible. And if she is from abusive background, maybe it affected her more than others because she was already in fragile state of mind.

I do think that national tragedies can **** us up in a way. My mom has her own trauma issues from soviet occupation and she didn't see anybody killed or anything. Just had to endure sucky 20 years in opressive regime. And the US after 9-11 was pretty weird, eh.