Stress inoculation training for posttraumatic stress disorder in emergency workers

M.A. (Psychology)Human suffering and death are an intrinsic part of the work of emergency response personnel. Emergency workers are not immune to the stresses of emergency situations, and it is therefore understandable that those dealing with the critically ill or injured will experience feelings like anger, anxiety and sadness. Gibbs, Drummond and Lachenmeyer (1993) cite some characteristic responses ofemergency workers in their reaction to the daily experience oftrauma. These responses include increased anxiety, tension and feelings of distress, and cognitive deficiencies. Physical symptoms and the abuse of alcohol are also common. Despite the considerable body of knowledge regarding stress in emergency workers, most intervention strategies to alleviate the long-term consequences of mental trauma on these workers have been prophylactic in terms of future service. Little has been done to validate such efforts (Dunning, 1990). Within the South African context research in this field is also scant, yet the overwhelming evidence ofthe reactions cited in research (Hetherington, 1993a; Gibbs et al, 1993; Mitchell, 1985, 1982, 1984b; Sparrius, 1992 and Mitchell and Bray, 1990), both local and international, would indicate that such reactions exist in South Africa and should therefore be extensively investigated. It would therefore be necessary to implement an intervention programme for this group and systematically evaluate it. However, the nature of PTSD on its own, and how it relates to the emergency worker needs to be discussed..