title: Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and the effect of explanatory variables in paramedic trainees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency healthcare workers, including trainees and individuals in related occupations are at heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression owing to work-related stressors.We aimed to investigate the type, frequency, and severity of direct trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms and other psychopathology amongst paramedic trainees. In order to create a risk profile for individuals who are at higher occupational risk of developing PTSD, we examined risk and resilience factors that possibly contributed to the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paramedic trainees (n = 131) were recruited from a local university. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using the explanatory variables age, gender, population group, trauma exposure, depression, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, resilience and social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  94% of paramedic trainees had directly experienced trauma, with 16% meeting PTSD criteria. A high rate of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (23%) and chronic perceived stress (7%) and low levels of social support was found. The number of previous trauma exposures, depression, resilience and social support significantly predicted PTSD status and depression had a mediating effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for efficient, ongoing screening of depressive and PTSD symptomatology in trauma exposed high risk groups so that early psychological supportive interventions can be offered.
authors.forename: Celine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Fjeldheim
authors.forename: Jani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nöthling
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganasen
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heneke
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa. sseedat@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seedat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
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