Acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder among medical personnel in Judea and Samaria areas in the years 2000-2003.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the incidence of acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among medical staff members serving in Judea and Samaria during 2000-2003.


METHODS
The study population included 141 medics and 19 medical doctors who provided emergency medical treatment during 23 violent events. Information regarding the incidence of ASD and PTSD was abstracted from Israel Defense Forces mental health files, as was a history of previous exposures to similar events, personal acquaintance with the victims, being under fire during the event, number of victims killed and/or wounded in the event, and length of time in service.


RESULTS
One medic was affected by PTSD, whereas one medical doctor and 12 medics suffered from ASD. The number of people killed in the event was associated with ASD in medics (p = 0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PTSD within the study population was very low, possibly because of post-trauma treatment and the training process for the medical staff members.
Lubin
Gad
G
Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Sids
Chagai
C
Vishne
Tali
T
Shochat
Tzipi
T
Ostfield
Yishai
Y
Shmushkevitz
Motti
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014857:Warfare; D000078329:Workforce