Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education
Abstract Background Emergency services personnel face frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events, with the potential for chronic symptomatic distress. The DSM-5 recently recognized a particular risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders (criterion A4) but data are s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Annals of General Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-018-0184-4 |
| _version_ | 1811215732016414720 |
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| author | Claudia Carmassi Camilla Gesi Martina Corsi Ivan M. Cremone Carlo A. Bertelloni Enrico Massimetti Maria Cristina Olivieri Ciro Conversano Massimo Santini Liliana Dell’Osso |
| author_facet | Claudia Carmassi Camilla Gesi Martina Corsi Ivan M. Cremone Carlo A. Bertelloni Enrico Massimetti Maria Cristina Olivieri Ciro Conversano Massimo Santini Liliana Dell’Osso |
| author_sort | Claudia Carmassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Emergency services personnel face frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events, with the potential for chronic symptomatic distress. The DSM-5 recently recognized a particular risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders (criterion A4) but data are still scarce on prevalence rates and correlates. Objective The aim of the present study was to explore the possible role of age, gender, and education training in a sample of emergency personnel diagnosed with DSM-5 PTSD. Methods The Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self-Report (TALS-SR) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) were administered to 42 between nurses and health care assistants, employed at the emergency room of a major University Hospital (Pisa) in Italy. Results 21.4% of the sample reported DSM-5 PTSD with significantly higher scores in the TALS-SR domain exploring the acute reaction to trauma and losses among health care assistants, older, and non-graduated subjects. A significant correlation between the number of the TALS-SR symptoms endorsed, corresponding to DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria emerged in health care assistants. Conclusions Despite further studies are needed in larger samples, our data suggest a high risk for PTSD and post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms in nurses and health care workers operating in an emergency department, particularly among health care assistants, women, older, and non-graduated operators. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:27:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-add144a670d4481e8e58fdc8a1112d0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-859X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:27:15Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-add144a670d4481e8e58fdc8a1112d0c2022-12-22T03:44:06ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2018-05-011711710.1186/s12991-018-0184-4Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and educationClaudia Carmassi0Camilla Gesi1Martina Corsi2Ivan M. Cremone3Carlo A. Bertelloni4Enrico Massimetti5Maria Cristina Olivieri6Ciro Conversano7Massimo Santini8Liliana Dell’Osso9Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaEmergency Medicine and Emergency Room Unit, AOUPSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaEmergency Medicine and Emergency Room Unit, AOUPSection of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaAbstract Background Emergency services personnel face frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events, with the potential for chronic symptomatic distress. The DSM-5 recently recognized a particular risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders (criterion A4) but data are still scarce on prevalence rates and correlates. Objective The aim of the present study was to explore the possible role of age, gender, and education training in a sample of emergency personnel diagnosed with DSM-5 PTSD. Methods The Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self-Report (TALS-SR) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) were administered to 42 between nurses and health care assistants, employed at the emergency room of a major University Hospital (Pisa) in Italy. Results 21.4% of the sample reported DSM-5 PTSD with significantly higher scores in the TALS-SR domain exploring the acute reaction to trauma and losses among health care assistants, older, and non-graduated subjects. A significant correlation between the number of the TALS-SR symptoms endorsed, corresponding to DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria emerged in health care assistants. Conclusions Despite further studies are needed in larger samples, our data suggest a high risk for PTSD and post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms in nurses and health care workers operating in an emergency department, particularly among health care assistants, women, older, and non-graduated operators.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-018-0184-4Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Emergency personnelNursesHealth care assistantsWork and social functioning/adjustmentAge |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Carmassi Camilla Gesi Martina Corsi Ivan M. Cremone Carlo A. Bertelloni Enrico Massimetti Maria Cristina Olivieri Ciro Conversano Massimo Santini Liliana Dell’Osso Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education Annals of General Psychiatry Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Emergency personnel Nurses Health care assistants Work and social functioning/adjustment Age |
| title | Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education |
| title_full | Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education |
| title_fullStr | Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education |
| title_short | Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education |
| title_sort | exploring ptsd in emergency operators of a major university hospital in italy a preliminary report on the role of gender age and education |
| topic | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Emergency personnel Nurses Health care assistants Work and social functioning/adjustment Age |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-018-0184-4 |
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