Exploring PTSD in relation to paramedics

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is caused by experiencing a traumatic event. Some symptoms of PTSD include: re-experiencing the trauma through distressing recollections of the event, flashbacks, and nightmares; emotional numbness; and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma. It can also include increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feeling jumpy, and being easily irritated and angered. PTSD is prevalent among paramedics and should be researched, treated, and prevented as much as possible. The topics that will be focused on in this blog are that some people are at a higher risk of developing PTSD than others, that it is important to determine the most effective treatment for PTSD, and that there are ways of preventing PTSD and reducing the rate.

 References:

 Bryant, R. A., Kenny, L., Rawson, N., Cahill, C., Joscelyne, A., Garber, B., . . . Nickerson, A. (2018). Efficacy of exposure-based cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency service personnel: A randomised clinical trial. Psychological Medicine,1-9. doi:10.1017/s0033291718002234

 Frijling, J. L. (2017). Preventing PTSD with oxytocin: Effects of oxytocin administration on fear neurocircuitry and PTSD symptom development in recently trauma-exposed individuals. European Journal of Psychotraumatology,8(1), 1302652. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1302652

 Qi, W., Gevonden, M., & Shalev, A. (2016). Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Trauma: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Current Psychiatry Reports,18(2). doi:10.1007/s11920-015-0655-0

 Streb, M., Häller, P., & Michael, T. (2014). PTSD in Paramedics: Resilience and Sense of Coherence. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy,42(04), 452-463. doi:10.1017/s1352465813000337

 Wild, J., Smith, K. V., Thompson, E., Bear, F., Lommen, M. J., & Ehlers, A. (2016). A prospective study of pre-trauma risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Psychological Medicine,2571-2782. Retrieved November 27, 2018.

 Zer-Aviv, T. M., Segev, A., & Akirav, I. (2016). Cannabinoids and post-traumatic stress disorder. Behavioural Pharmacology,27(7), 561-569. doi:10.1097/fbp.0000000000000253