Related Experiment Videos
Predicting symptomatic distress in emergency services personnel
D S Weiss1, C R Marmar, T J Metzler
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0984, USA.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Emergency services (EMS) personnel experiencing traumatic events show more distress with higher exposure. Dissociative tendencies strongly predict symptomatic responses, even after accounting for other factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Emergency services (EMS) personnel face high exposure to traumatic critical incidents.
- Understanding predictors of symptomatic distress is crucial for supporting these workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of symptomatic distress in EMS personnel after traumatic events.
- To replicate findings in a new cohort of EMS workers.
Main Methods:
- Two groups of EMS personnel were studied, including those involved in the 1989 San Francisco Bay area earthquake.
- Predictors evaluated included exposure, social support, psychological traits, adjustment, job experience, locus of control, and dissociative variables.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic distress was positively related to the degree of exposure to critical incidents.
- Dissociative variables were strong predictors of symptomatic response, even when controlling for other factors.
Conclusions:
- The degree of exposure and dissociative tendencies are key predictors of distress in EMS personnel.
- Findings reinforce the link between dissociative experiences and distress following traumatic stress exposure.