Posttraumatic stress disorder among emergency medical technicians

Emergency medical work is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation. The nature of the job requires frequent exposure to horrific sights, sounds, and smells not often seen by the lay public. Despite the potentially traumatic nature of emergency medical work, very little is known about its psychological impact. This study represents one of the first attempts to examine the job-related psychological reactions of emergency medical technicians (EMTs). A sample of 155 EMTs from across the state of Nebraska responded to a variety of questionnaires including a revised Posttraumatic Stress Diagnosis Scale (Foa, 1995), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; Saunders et al., 1993), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (Derogatis, 1994). Consistent with hypotheses, a substantial number of EMTs (over 20%) demonstrated clinically significant symptoms of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over 18% of the sample admitted to the deliberate use of alcohol as a strategy for coping with the job. Rural EMTs had consistently higher PTSD symptom severity levels and psychopathology scores when compared to their urban peers. A path model explaining how attributional style, psychopathology, job-related experiences, and job satisfaction combine to predict PTSD in this population is provided and analyzed. Clearly, emergency medical work is stressful and potentially traumatizing. The data reported in this study may assist in the early identification of those EMTs at greatest risk for job-related traumatization. Because EWTs provide such essential services, it is in society\u27s best interests to promote their emotional well-being. Not many people are willing to undertake this line of work. The few who do deserve to be assisted in dealing with its traumatic aftereffects. Ultimately, interventions designed specifically for this population may result in psychologically healthier and more productive emergency medical responders