Understanding vicarious traumatization

Abstract

1. Close and prolonged work with victims of trauma and abuse can have serious psychological consequences for professionals. 2. The consequences to professionals can include development of anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, alienation, dissociative episodes, feeling of helplessness, paranoia, hypervigilance, and disrupted personal relationships. 3. The concepts of cognitive processing models and investigation into memory dynamics can offer understanding of vicarious traumatization, and may help define preventive measures and treatment options for this condition.