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. 2018 May 4:17:17.
doi: 10.1186/s12991-018-0184-4. eCollection 2018.

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

Claudia Carmassi  1 , Camilla Gesi  1 , Martina Corsi  1 , Ivan M Cremone  1 , Carlo A Bertelloni  1 , Enrico Massimetti  1 , Maria Cristina Olivieri  2 , Ciro Conversano  1 , Massimo Santini  2 , Liliana Dell'Osso  1
Affiliations

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

Claudia Carmassi et al. Ann Gen Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Emergency 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.

Objective: The 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.

Methods: The 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.

Results: 21.4% 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.

Conclusions: Despite 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.

Keywords: Age; Education; Emergency personnel; Gender; Health care assistants; Nurses; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Work and social functioning/adjustment.

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