[Controlled study of outcome after 6 months to early intervention of bus driver victims of aggression]

Abstract

The aftermath of psychological trauma, long since studied in the context of war ("soldier's heart", "shell shock", etc.) can also occur as a result of trauma in civilian life. Bus drivers in large urban area are frequently aggressed. Over a period of 5 months, bus drivers who had been aggressed, employees of the largest French urban transport company (RATP), participated in a study designed to evaluate the effects of cognitive behavior treatment provided shortly after such aggression. A total of 132 bus drivers were included in the study divided into 2 randomized groups: a control group (67 subjects) received the usual medical-social care offered by the company, and a treatment group (65 subjects) who, in addition, benefited from 1 to 6 sessions of cognitive behavior intervention, including:evocation of the aggression, relaxation, role plays, cognitive restructuring. Subjects were evaluated by self-questionnaires a few days post-aggression and re-evaluated 6 months later. At follow-up, results showed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety levels (measured by the HAD scale) and intrusion of the traumatic memory (as evaluated by the Horowitz scale) in the treatment group. Hence, early and structured intervention appears to lessen the impact of the traumatic event on bus drivers attacked at work.