Prevalence and factors associated to post-traumatic stress disorder among French mountain rescuers

Abstract

Rescue workers are more repeatedly exposed to traumatic events than general population and they consequently are at higher risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Berger and al., 2012). A large literature showed that the role of risk or protective factors involved in PTSD depends on the population (Brewin, Andrews, & Valentine, 2000). Our aims were to estimate the current prevalence of PTSD among mountain rescue workers and to identify specific factors of risk or protection associated with. Rescue mountain workers (n=33) responded to individual clinical interviews used to diagnose PTSD (CAPS-DSM-4) and completed some measures of the mindful trait (FMI), alexithymia (TAS), coping strategies (Brief Cope), perceived social support, normative pressure, distress face to the victims’ family, identification with the victim. Our results show that rescue mountain workers have been exposed to many traumatic events, with 22% of them showing PTSD syndrome and 19% of them sub-syndromal state. The mindfulness trait was associated with reduced number of PTSD symptoms (r=-.35, p <.05) and should be considered as involved in protective emotional and cognitive processes face to trauma (Smith et al., 2011). As a whole our results offer some tracks for prevention of PTSD among rescue workers.