Frequency of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Relief Force Workers after the Tsunami in Asia: Do Rescuers Become Victims?

Abstract

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the participants of the Turkish Red Crescent Disaster Relief Team after the Tsunami in Asia.Methods:The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-1 (CAPS-1) was administered to 33 of 36 team members one month after their Disaster Relief Team duty. Along with the CAPS-1 interview, demographic features, profession, previous professional experience, previous experience with traumatic events and disasters also were recorded. To be classified as present, a symptom must have a frequency score of “1” and an intensity score of “2” at the CAPS-1 interview. For a diagnosis of PTSD, at least one re-experiencing, three avoidance and numbing, and two increased arousal symptoms should be present.Results:The PTSD was diagnosed in eight of the 33 (24.2%) participants. No significant difference was detected in the distribution of PTSD diagnosis according to gender, age, profession, professional experience, previous disaster experience, and/or previous experience of traumatic events. However, the severity of PTSD symptoms as measured by the CAPS-1 score was significantly higher in women, nurses, and participants with <3 previous disaster duty experiences.Conclusion:Post-traumatic stress disorder is prevalent within disaster teams and healthcare workers, and measures should be taken to prevent PTSD within this group.

Acute stress reactions among medical and non-medical personnel in a general hospital under missile attacks

“…This estimated prevalence of those meeting criteria for PTSD in our sample is consistent with the range of 4% [15] to 24% [7] found in similar samples of civilians caregivers and medical personnel. Likewise, it is consistent with recent reports on rates of PTSD among military medical personnel serving in the IDF during the second Intifida (8.1%) [16] and in the U.S. forces in Iraq (6%) (Operation Iraqi Freedom Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT).…”

“…[3] Similar low rates of PTSD (0%-4%) were found in other studies that examined the relationship between secondary traumatization and occupational role among trauma counselors. [4][5][6] On the other hand, rates of PTSD among relief workers exposed to the Tsunami [7] and the earthquake in Taiwan [8,9] were once again in the 20% to 24% range. Interpretation of these contradictory results is difficult due to the great variability in the nature and severity of the actual trauma (there is a big difference between tending to injured and dead victims and watching similar sights on TV), assessment tools, and time intervals that elapsed from the disaster.…”

Future role aspirations, achievement motivations and perceptions of personal help-seeking among humanitarian aid trainees

“…Studies of PTSD among military and police personnel have found prevalence estimates of 8.3% (Defence Health 2016) and 10-12% (Rose et al 2002) for these populations respectively, compared with 4-6% of the general population (Cooper et al 2014). Whilst studies of HA workers have generally relied on questionnaire measures rather than structured clinical interviews (producing estimates of "probable PTSD" rather than formal diagnoses), indicative rate estimates for PTSD among national and international expatriate HA workers range between 17 and 30% in the available literature (Eriksson et al 2001;Armagan et al 2006;Putman et al 2009;Zhen et al 2012). …”

The Management of Medical Services in the Early and Late Phase of Tsunami: A Preparation for Humanitarian Health Assistance

“…The long period of rehabilitation will make the patients to fall into the post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as into infectious diseases, and it may occur not only to the victims but also to the relief forces and medical workers. By this reasons, limiting the work of the medical team involved in humanitarian assistance operations in the tsunami affected area is very important [11]. Helping children after tsunami is also another challenge for the medical team.…”