scholarly journals A cross-sectional study of mental health-, posttraumatic stress symptoms and post exposure changes in Norwegian ambulance personnel

2022 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Ole Reid ◽  
Lars Eide Næss-Pleym ◽  
Karin Elvenes Bakkelund ◽  
Jostein Dale ◽  
Oddvar Uleberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Ambulance Personnel ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Abstract Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be elevated among first responders (Emergency Medical Services, fire service, police force) compared to the general population. Examining the prevalence of mental health issues in a work force with an elevated occupational risk is fundamental towards ensuring their wellbeing and implementing safeguard measures. The goal of this study is therefore to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic development, and PTSD in Norwegian ambulance personnel. Methods This study is a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey (Questback®), performed among operative personnel employed in the Emergency Medical Services in the Regional Health Trust of Central Norway between 18. February and 9. April 2021. The study was sent to 1052 eligible participants. Questions reported demographic data, a traumatic events exposure index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, Posttraumatic symptom scale (PTSD) and Posttraumatic change scale. Results The response rate in this study was 45.5% (n = 479/1052). The mean age of respondents was 37.1 years (std. 11.1) and 52.8% (n = 253) were male. Of the respondents, 80.6% (n = 386) were married or had a partner, and 91.6% (n = 439) reported having access to a peer support programme, with 34.9% (n = 167) reporting that they had utilized peer support. In this study, 5% (n = 24) showed a prevalence of manifest posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, while 8.6% (n = 41) reported moderate to severe depression and 2.9% (n = 14) presented moderate to severe symptoms of general anxiety. Of the respondents, 77.2% (n = 370) reported personal growth because of their work experiences. Conclusions This study indicates that Norwegian ambulance personnel report a prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression, which is slightly higher for men, and lower for the female proportion in this study, when compared to an adult Norwegian population. The vast majority of respondents reported personal growth because of their work experience, and both the degree of peer support and having a partner seem to influence levels of posttraumatic stress and -development.

scholarly journals A Cross-sectional Study of Mental Health, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Post Exposure Changes in Norwegian Ambulance Personnel

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Ole Reid ◽  
Lars Eide Næss-Pleym ◽  
Karin Elvenes Bakkelund ◽  
Jostein Dale ◽  
Oddvar Uleberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Ambulance Personnel ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Abstract Background Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be elevated among first responders (Emergency Medical Services, fire service, police force) compared to the general population. Examining the prevalence of mental health issues in a work force with an elevated occupational risk is fundamental towards ensuring their wellbeing and implementing safeguard measures. The goal of this study is therefore to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic development, and PTSD in Norwegian ambulance personnel. Methods This study is a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey (Questback®), performed among operative personnel employed in the Emergency Medical Services in the Regional Health Trust of Central Norway between 18. February and 9. April 2021. The study was sent to 1052 eligible participants. Questions reported demographic data, a traumatic events exposure index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, Posttraumatic symptom scale (PTSD) and Posttraumatic change scale. Results The response rate in this study was 45.5 % (n=479/1052). The mean age of respondents was 37.1 years (std. 11.1) and 52.8 % (n=253) were male. Of the respondents, 80.6% (n=386) were married or had a partner, and 91.6% (n=439) reported having access to a peer support programme, with 34.9% (n=167) reporting that they had utilized peer support. In this study, 5 % (n=24) showed a prevalence of manifest posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, while 8.6 % (n=41) reported moderate to severe depression and 2.9 % (n=14) presented moderate to severe symptoms of general anxiety. Of the respondents, 77.2 % (n=370) reported personal growth because of their work experiences. Conclusions This study indicates that Norwegian ambulance personnel report a prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression, which is slightly higher for men, and lower for the female proportion in this study, when compared to an adult Norwegian population. The vast majority of respondents reported personal growth because of their work experience, and both the degree of peer support and having a partner seem to influence levels of posttraumatic stress and -development.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in a Population of Rural Children in South Africa

1999 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 646-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Peltzer
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Age Range

The purpose of the study was to identify exposure to experiences such as violence and the consequences for health in children in a rural South African community. The stratified random sample included 148 children below 17 yr., which comprised 68 (46%) boys and 80 (54%) girls in the age range of 6 to 16 years ( M = 12.1 yr., SD = 3.1). Their ethnicity was Northern Sotho. The interviews included the Children's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Inventory and the Reporting Questionnaire for Children. The experiences could be grouped into either traumatic or other events. 99 (67%) had directly or vicariously experienced a traumatic event which included witnessing someone killed or seriously injured, serious accident, violent or very unexpected death or suicide of loved one, sexual abuse or rape of relative or friend, violent crime, child abuse, and other life-threatening situations. Scores on the Children's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Inventory of 17 (8.4%) fulfilled the criterion for posttraumatic stress disorder. 71% had more than one score and 53% had more than four scores on the Reporting Questionnaire for Children. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were significantly related to age and experiences such as those mentioned above.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Posttransplant Children: Creating a Clinical Program to Address Their Needs

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukru Emre
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Newyork City ◽  
Stress Symptoms

AbstractPosttraumatic stress symptoms have been shown to occur in pediatric and adult solid-organ transplant recipients. The presence of these symptoms is associated with non-adherence to medications, increased distress, and poor outcome. Because posttraumatic stress disorder is treatable and because a transplant operation usually is an “anticipated trauma,” it is possible to address posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in transplant recipients and attempt to prevent their development. Under my direction, the pediatric liver transplant program at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NewYork City created research and clinical programs to address posttraumatic stress symptoms and their consequences. Specifically, the focus on non-adherence to immunosuppressive medications in transplant recipients who are distressed and their parents. This article begins with a review of the data that led to the decision to start these programs. I then present the basic elements that are in place, in this particular program, to address patients' needs. I end this review with preliminary outcome data that illustrate the potential impact of such an integrated approach to patient care on medical outcomes.

Acute and Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in the Emergence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Bryant ◽  
Mark Creamer ◽  
Meaghan O’Donnell ◽  
David Forbes ◽  
Alexander C. McFarlane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Stress Symptoms

scholarly journals The Effects of Inattentiveness and Hyperactivity on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: Does a Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Matter?

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1246-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Adams ◽  
Thomas Adams ◽  
Kirstin Stauffacher ◽  
Howard Mandel ◽  
Zhewu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Emotional Lability ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Objective: To address the nature of associations between ADHD symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychopathology in adult military veterans. Method: Ninety-five combat veterans, with PTSD ( n = 63) and without PTSD ( n = 32), were recruited for this study. PTSD was assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and ADHD was assessed with Connors’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale−Self-Report: Short Version (CAARS-S:S). Results: PTSD participants endorsed greater hyperactivity or restlessness, inattention or memory problems, and impulsivity or emotional lability scores than participants without PTSD. Among PTSD participants, inattention or memory problems and impulsivity or emotional lability were significant predictors of total PTSD symptoms, but only inattention or memory problems significantly predicted PTSD symptoms when other ADHD symptom clusters were considered simultaneously. Conclusion: Our data suggest that inattention may serve as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress symptoms following combat exposure.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Depression in Mothers of Children with Severe Burn Injuries

1998 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isao Fukunishi
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Burn Injuries ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Stress Symptoms

This study examined posttraumatic stress symptoms and depressive symptoms in mothers of children with burn injuries from accidentally falling into a bathtub filled with hot water. Subjects were 16 pairs, children with burn injuries and their mothers. Psychiatric interviews were administered to the mothers to check the presence or absence of mental disorders. The severity of mothers' depressive symptoms was rated on the Hamilton Depression Scale. Prevalence rates of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression were 6.3% and 0% in children with burn injury and 12.5% and 18.8% in their mothers, respectively. For three symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (intense distress at similar event, restricted range of affect, and hypervigilance), prevalence rates were significantly higher for the mothers than for the children. Ratings of the three symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder for the mothers were significantly and positively correlated with scores for guilt feelings. Compared with children with burn injury, mothers are prone to posttraumatic stress symptoms mixed with guilt feelings for children with burn injury.

scholarly journals Insomnia Symptoms and Acute Coronary Syndrome-Induced Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Comprehensive Analysis of Cross-sectional and Prospective Associations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland von Känel ◽  
Rebecca E Meister-Langraf ◽  
Aju P Pazhenkottil ◽  
Jürgen Barth ◽  
Ulrich Schnyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Insomnia Symptoms

Abstract Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) induces clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in 12% of patients. Subjective sleep problems are a risk factor for the development of PTSS, but this is underexplored in patients with ACS. Purpose To examine the association of insomnia symptoms with ACS-induced PTSS. Methods In this longitudinal study with 154 patients (all white, 84.4% male, mean age 58.7 years) with a verified ACS, insomnia symptoms were interviewer assessed at hospital admission and at 3 months, using the Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS)-4. ACS-induced PTSS were assessed with the Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale 3 months after hospital admission. In multivariable linear models, insomnia symptoms were regressed on PTSS, adjusting for demographics, clinical variables, health behaviors, and psychological data, including cognitive depressive symptoms. Results Greater insomnia symptoms at admission (β = .165, p = .034), greater increase in insomnia symptoms from admission to 3 months (β = .233, p = .008), and greater insomnia symptoms at 3 months (β = .239, p = .002) were independently associated with more severe total PTSS at 3 months. Concerning the individual PTSS clusters, both insomnia symptoms at admission (β = .214, p = .007) and at 3 months (β = .213, p = .012) were independently associated with reeexperiencing symptoms. Removing sleep items from PTSS scores and excluding patients on antidepressants in two sensitivity analyses did not substantially change the results. Conclusions Insomnia symptoms could play an important role in the development and severity of ACS-induced PTSS. This relationship seems not simply explained by the fact that sleeping difficulties are inherent to the phenotype of posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Trial information NCT01781247.

scholarly journals Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaru Chen ◽  
Xin Huang ◽  
Chengyuan Zhang ◽  
Yuanyuan An ◽  
Yiming Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Negative News

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 5 million people around the world and killed more than 300,000 people; thus, it has become a global public health emergency. Our objective was to investigate the mental health of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Trauma Exposure Scale, abbreviated version of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and Demographic Questionnaire were used to examine posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, trauma exposure, resilience and perceived social support among 898 patients who were hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in China. The data were analyzed with t tests, one-way ANOVA and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The results showed that the prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 13.2, 21.0 and 16.4%, respectively. Hospitalized patients who were more impacted by negative news reports, had greater exposure to traumatic experiences, and had lower levels of perceived social support reported higher PTSD, depression and anxiety. Conclusions Effective professional mental health services should be designed to support the psychological wellbeing of hospitalized patients, especially those who have severe disease, are strongly affected by negative news and have high levels of exposure to trauma.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document