Exploring PTSD in emergency operators of a major University Hospital in Italy: a preliminary report on the role of gender, age, and education

Abstract

BackgroundEmergency 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.ObjectiveThe 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.MethodsThe 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.Results21.4% 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.ConclusionsDespite 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.

Mindfulness, Age and Gender as Protective Factors Against Psychological Distress During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Conversely, quarantining negatively affected mental health, increasing GSI of 0.05 for each week passed in lockdown. Consistent with previous studies (Di Giuseppe et al, 2019cGiuseppe et al, , 2020cCarmassi et al, 2014Carmassi et al, , 2018, younger subjects and females were at higher risk for mental health problems, while living with one's spouse resulted in them feeling slightly protected in terms of psychological wellbeing. The protective factor of mindfulness disposition and training has already been shown in previous literature, influencing positively memory function, cognitive resilience, mental health, emotional balance, and high stress functioning, also decreasing anxiety, depression, and burnout levels (Jha et al, 2010(Jha et al, , 2017Abenavoli et al, 2013;De Frias and Whyne, 2015;Westphal et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2017).…”

Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes among Health Care Workers Exposed to Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19)

“…Further, it is possible to hypothesize a consequent and related impact of professional quality-of-life dimensions on mental health outcomes. The same independent variables (HCW characteristics) obviously present a direct impact on HCWs’ mental health, which is completely independent of the pandemic, as highly demonstrated by the literature on HCWs through years [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. (See Figure 1 for theoretical model of study hypothesis).…”

“…The scientific community has called for high-quality evidence on the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the whole population and vulnerable groups such as HCWs, which has since confirmed that data on this challenging issue are still limited [ 28 ]. In this context, it is therefore an essential contribution to literature in order to better understand the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on HCWs’ outcomes.…”

Psychological Impact of a Pandemic Widespread in Healthcare Workers: The Italian and Swiss Perspective Early After of CoVid-19 Outbreak

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