Prevalence and factors associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in emergency workers: a systematic literature review

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Assunção, Ada Ávila¹  Lima, Eduardo de Paula¹ 

[1] Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

关键词: Mental health;    Posttraumatic stress disorder;    Risk factors;    Emergency workers;    Epidemiology;    Occupational health;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2011000200004

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVE:To identify the prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in emergencyworkers and determine the factors associated with outcomes.
METHODS: Seven databases were consulted (Medline via Pubmed, PsycINFO,LILACS, SciELO, BDENF, DISASTERS, and MEDCARIB) between September 10 and 25,2009. The search only included articles published in Portuguese, English orSpanish between 2004 and 2009. The key-words involved terms related to emergencyservices/workers, Posttraumatic stress disorder, working conditions, and occupationalhealth. Quantitative observational studies on PTSD prevalence and determinantor associated factors regarding the health of firefighters, emergency ambulancepersonnel, Red Cross workers, and medical emergency workers were included. Studiesusing samples unrelated to the purposes of this review (police officers, volunteersand emergency workers' children) or that did not include PTSD symptoms as thedependent variable in at least one of the objectives of the study were excluded.
RESULTS: 30 articles were selected by reading the titles and abstracts.17 complete articles were reviewed and analyzed. Studies adopted different researchdesigns, instruments and diagnostic criteria for statistical analysis. The prevalenceof the disease ranged from absence of reported cases to a rate of 38.5%. Socio-demographic,biological and psychological characteristics, morbidity, exposure to occupationaland non-occupational traumatic events, and work and job features were associatedwith the prevalence of PTSD in emergency workers.
CONCLUSION: Individual and contextual variables are considered as factorsassociated with PTSD, which explains the multidimensional nature of the outcomestudied.

【 授权许可】

CC BY