title: DSM-5 PTSD and posttraumatic stress spectrum in Italian emergency personnel: correlations with work and social adjustment.
abstract: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has recently recognized a particular risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders (criterion A4), acknowledging emergency units as stressful places of employment. Little data is yet available on DSM-5 among emergency health operators. The aim of this study was to assess DSM-5 symptomatological PTSD and posttraumatic stress spectrum, as well as their impact on work and social functioning, in the emergency staff of a major university hospital in Italy. One hundred and ten subjects (doctors, nurses, and health-care assistants) were recruited at the Emergency Unit of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (Italy) and assessed by the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). A 15.7% DSM-5 symptomatological PTSD prevalence rate was found. Nongraduated persons reported significantly higher TALS-SR Domain IV (reaction to loss or traumatic events) scores and a significantly higher proportion of individuals presenting at least one maladaptive behavior (TALS-SR Domain VII), with respect to graduate ones. Women reported significantly higher WSAS scores. Significant correlations emerged between PTSD symptoms and WSAS total scores among health-care assistants, nongraduates and women. Our results showed emergency workers to be at risk for posttraumatic stress spectrum and related work and social impairment, particularly among women and nongraduated subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Favilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massimetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine and Emergency Room Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conversano
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine and Emergency Room Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
keywords: education; emergency; emergency care workers; gender; maladaptive behaviors; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); work and social functioning/adjustment