Symptoms of stress disorder and depression among trauma counselors after an airline disaster

Abstract

Psychological symptoms of 21 therapists who provided counseling to individuals affected by the crash of a commercial airliner were compared with those of 20 therapists from the same mental health center who did not participate in the disaster relief efforts. A symptoms checklist instrument was completed by both groups at four, eight, and 12 weeks after the crash. At four and eight weeks, the trauma counselors experienced significantly more symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression than the therapists in the control group. At 12 weeks the only significantly increased symptom among the trauma counselors was avoidance behavior.