[Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder in intensive care unit personnel]

A questionnaire-study on work related trauma was conducted at 15 intensive care units. 144 examined female and male (17%) nurses provided information on the type and frequency of highly stressful job experiences, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-C), depression (ADS-K) and cognitive-emotional coping style (FAPK 1.3). The study participants had an average age of 32 and an average job experience of 8 years. They reported an average of 38 traumatic job experiences in which they were confronted with seriously injured, mutilated and dying patients, corpses and their own anxiety and helplessness. 88% suffered from intrusive symptoms, 75%) from arousal symptoms; 41% had developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compared with less disturbed participants nurses with PTSD reported significantly more often on depressive symptoms and deficiencies in emotional competence.