Exposure to traumatic incidents and prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptomatology in urban firefighters in two countries

J Occup Health Psychol. 1999 Apr;4(2):131-41. doi: 10.1037//1076-8998.4.2.131.

Abstract

Urban firefighters are at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due in part to their exposure to duty-related trauma. This study compared duty-related trauma exposures and the prevalences of posttraumatic stress in U.S. and Canadian firefighters. Both samples reported relatively numerous and frequent posttrauma symptoms, and the rates of self-reported PTSD prevalence did not differ significantly. However, analysis of departmental records for respondents' previous year on duty revealed significant differences in both frequencies and categories of traumatic incident exposures. Some of the vulnerability and moderating risk factors associated with PTSD caseness differed between the U.S. and Canadian samples. Potential explanations for the observed differences in risk factors for PTSD in these 2 firefighter samples are considered.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Allied Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Employee Performance Appraisal
  • Female
  • Fires
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / classification
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupations / statistics & numerical data*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Sampling Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Social Support
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / classification
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Urban Health / statistics & numerical data