Post-Traumatic Stress and Fire-Fighters
Posted on Oct 22, 2008 under Post Traumatic Stress Disorder |
Emergency service personnel, such as fire fighters, police officers and paramedics often face stressful situations, and as a result of their work they are at increased risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In an attempt to protect them against PTSD, many personnel are required to attend group debriefing sessions following exposure to traumatic events. However, there is evidence that these group debriefing sessions may actually increase the risk of PTSD and also permanently distort the participants memories for the events they witnessed.
Over the next three years, a team of leading researchers from the University of New South Wales will work with NSW Fire Brigades to:
1) Develop an effective PTSD intervention for emergency service personnel.
2) Ensure that the new intervention also preserves the integrity of the participants memories for critical events.
This slideshow will be used at the 2008 ARC Expo.
Contact:
Helen Paterson | 0415 230 322 | h.paterson@unsw.edu.au
Duration : 0:9:29
