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Treating posttraumatic stress disorder in first responders: a systematic review
Peter T Haugen1, Mark Evces, Daniel S Weiss
1World Trade Center Health Program NYU School of Medicine Clinical Center of Excellence at Bellevue Hospital Center, Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA. peter.haugen@nyumc.org
Clinical Psychology Review
|May 8, 2012
Summary
First responders face high trauma exposure, increasing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk. Despite this, research on effective PTSD treatments for this group is alarmingly limited, hindering evidence-based recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- First responders are at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to traumatic events.
- Existing literature extensively covers PTSD risk factors and presentation in first responders, but lacks a focus on treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments specifically in first responders.
- To evaluate the current evidence base for PTSD interventions in this high-risk occupational group.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of English and non-English peer-reviewed articles was conducted.
- The search prioritized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with PTSD as a primary outcome.
- Identified literature was analyzed for treatment proposals relevant to first responders.
Main Results:
- Only two bona fide RCTs on psychosocial PTSD treatments for first responders were identified from 845 articles.
- No psychopharmacologic RCTs for PTSD in first responders were found.
- The two RCTs demonstrated significant large treatment effects, but the overall literature is insufficient for evidence-based recommendations.
Conclusions:
- The evidence base for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders is critically sparse.
- Current research is insufficient to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for this population.
- Further high-quality RCTs are urgently needed to address PTSD in first responders.
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