International Journal Of Emergency Mental Health[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Traumatic events in the workplace: impact on psychopathology and healthcare use of police officers.
Martin M, Marchand A, Boyer R
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 20437847
This retrospective study examined the impact of exposure to duty-related traumatic events and of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among 159 Canadian police officers. Structured interviews were conducted (1) to assess...
This retrospective study examined the impact of exposure to duty-related traumatic events and of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among 159 Canadian police officers. Structured interviews were conducted (1) to assess the presence or absence of exposure to work-related traumatic events; (2) to identify the most traumatic incident; (3) to determine PTSD status (i.e., full, partial or no PTSD); and (4) to diagnose psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, depression, and substance-related disorders). Healthcare use, hardiness, and coping were assessed with self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, and Student's t-tests. Results showed that trauma-exposed officers were no more likely to have psychopathology at time of study and did not score differently on measures of hardiness and coping than non-exposed officers. However trauma-exposed officers who developed full or partial PTSD were significantly more likely to experience depression in the aftermath of trauma than exposed officers without PTSD. After the trauma, police with full PTSD were significantly more likely to have medical appointments, consult a mental health professional, be on sick leave, and score lower on a hardiness measure than officers without PTSD. Full PTSD affected subsequent psychopathology, healthcare use, and hardiness. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Cultural differences in dealing with critical incidents.
Leonhardt J, Vogt J
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 20437846
This article discusses the cultural aspects of High Reliability Organizations (HROs), such as air navigation services. HROs must maintain a highly professional safety culture and constantly be prepared to handle crises....
This article discusses the cultural aspects of High Reliability Organizations (HROs), such as air navigation services. HROs must maintain a highly professional safety culture and constantly be prepared to handle crises. The article begins with a general discussion of the concept of organizational culture. The special characteristics of HROs and their safety culture is then described. Finally the article illustrates how Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is becoming an ingrained feature of the organizational culture in air traffic control systems. Critical Incident Stress Management is a prevention program that can successfully guard against the negative effects of critical incidents. The CISM program of DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung) was recently evaluated by the University of Copenhagen. This evaluation not only confirmed the successful prevention of negative effects at the operation's employee level (especially air traffic controllers), but also showed a sustained improvement of its safety culture and its overall organizational performance. The special aspects of cross-cultural crisis intervention and the challenges it faces, as well as the importance of prevention programs, such as CISM, are illustrated using the examples of two aircraft accidents: the crash landing of a calibration aircraft and the Lake Constance air disaster.
Qualitative methods in the development of a national child and family disaster mental health research training program.
Maida CA, Steinberg AM, Kaplan S … +3 more , Brymer MJ, Kurklinsky AK, Pfefferbaum B
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 20437845
Conducting research in the aftermath of disasters is complicated by chaotic conditions, competing priorities, and resource constraints, and raises a variety of ethical concerns. Ultimately, research should extend our und...
Conducting research in the aftermath of disasters is complicated by chaotic conditions, competing priorities, and resource constraints, and raises a variety of ethical concerns. Ultimately, research should extend our understanding of the impact of disasters on children, families, and communities and translate findings into improved services and public policies that afford enhanced protection and promote recovery. Unfortunately, the existing research base on children and disasters has not been adequate to inform the development of effective psychosocial services and interventions, and decision-making about the allocation of behavioral health resources. To improve research capacity, the Child & Family Disaster Research Training & Education program provides child disaster mental health research training for mental health and public health professionals. The program has engaged a national faculty to develop a comprehensive modular disaster research curriculum covering basic concepts, current knowledge, clinical issues and interventions, research and ethical issues, public health structures, and response options. Focus groups were held prior to training to elicit the participants' knowledge of and attitudes about child and family disaster mental health research, to understand training needs, to identify research topics of interest and perceived barriers to generating and conducting research. The results were then used to refine the curriculum.
Preparing for pandemic influenza and its aftermath: mental health issues considered.
Douglas PK, Douglas DB, Harrigan DC … +1 more , Douglas KM
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 20437844
In November of 2005, President George W Bush requested $7.1 billion dollars for a global influenza epidemic preparedness initiative (Brown, 2005). Preparation measures for a biological threat or influenza pandemic focus...
In November of 2005, President George W Bush requested $7.1 billion dollars for a global influenza epidemic preparedness initiative (Brown, 2005). Preparation measures for a biological threat or influenza pandemic focus on rapid quarantine, vaccines, developing antiviral treatments, and economic concerns (Brown, 2005; Ferguson et al., 2006; Reina, 2008). Although these public health measures are vital, they do not consider the acute mental health consequences that could develop during a pandemic and its aftermath. The most recent H1N1 swine flu has now spread to more than 70 countries (CDC, June 2009), and as of June 11, 2009, is considered a Phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization, indicative of ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of the globe. Following recent cases of swine flu, global concern of an influenza pandemic has risen, and it is critical that metal health considerations become an integrated part of the pandemic response. Here, potential mental health consequences and high risk populations are identified and reviewed. Mental health professionals, communities, businesses, and organizations can create an infrastructure to help mitigate mental health consequences. These issues, as well as familial stressors and coping methods, are reviewed.
Crises can affect individuals, small groups, larger organizations, or entire populations.
Miller L
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 20437843
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
A report on the evaluation of the First European Conference on Critical Incident Stress Management organized by the European Office of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.
Vogt J, Gasche V, Muris J … +2 more , Leonhardt J, Mitchell JT
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927499
The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) established an office in Europe in 2004. The ICISF European Office (EO) held its first ICISF European Conference on Critical Incident Stress Management on Sep...
The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) established an office in Europe in 2004. The ICISF European Office (EO) held its first ICISF European Conference on Critical Incident Stress Management on September 27th 2008. The conference was formally evaluated and the results are reported in this article. 140 participants from seventeen different European nations were counted In open-ended answers and standard rating scales, 83 participants gave feedback on the conference. They were asked about the relevance of the conference, the theory-to-practice transfer learning effects, quality of the presentations, organization, location and wishes to future conferences. The results were positive in all respects. They should focus on specific organizations or professional groups (e.g. rescue services) and take place in the falls of odd years.
Navigating dangerous waters: the utility of critical incident stress management for college- and university-based counseling centers.
Ginebaugh KJ, Klingensmith E, Palombi B
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927498
University and college counseling center personnel are called upon to provide routine and emergency mental health services for individuals and groups within the campus community. While highly trained and skilled in indiv...
University and college counseling center personnel are called upon to provide routine and emergency mental health services for individuals and groups within the campus community. While highly trained and skilled in individual and small group therapy consultation, and outreach, most higher-education based clinicians do not have specialized training to respond to larger-scale traumatic or critical incidents. Such training is necessary to provide responsible and effective intervention. An approach to these incidents that is research-based, comprehensive, and flexible is Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). The strengths of the CISM approach for use in higher educational settings are detailed with descriptions of existing ways CISM has been used and a call for more wide-spread utilization of CISM in higher education.
Partnerships for effective campus crisis responses.
Ingemann M, Jackson L, Pittman J
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927497
Violence on college campuses has spurred administrators and campus safety officials to devise effective crisis management and threat assessment strategies. The college community lends itself to a systematic multi-compone...
Violence on college campuses has spurred administrators and campus safety officials to devise effective crisis management and threat assessment strategies. The college community lends itself to a systematic multi-component model of crisis intervention primarily due to its self-contained and widespread interconnected social networks. The CISM model for a crisis response is an empirically supported program that would inform practice prior to, during, and following university-based crises. Ultimately, best practices in the world of academia should rest on a foundation of detailed preparation, interdepartmental collaboration and coordination, extensive specialized training, and periodic review of campus protocols to assess for systemic changes.
Impact of pornography on forensic mental health and law enforcement professionals: effective coping strategies.
Johnson SA
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927496
For purposes of evidence collection and prosecution of offenders, as well as for mandated treatment of sex offenders, it may be necessary for law enforcement officers and mental health clinicians to gather and examine th...
For purposes of evidence collection and prosecution of offenders, as well as for mandated treatment of sex offenders, it may be necessary for law enforcement officers and mental health clinicians to gather and examine the pornography of violent offenders. The impact of repeatedly reviewing this material can be draining and demoralizing. This article describes the special stresses of dealing with violent and/ or shocking pornography and outlines some of the coping strategies that law enforcement and mental health professionals find useful in dealing productively with their emotional reactions to this difficult but essential type of work.
Criminal investigator stress: symptoms, syndromes, and practical coping strategies.
Miller L
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927495
Without the skill and dedication of criminal investigators, there could literally be no criminal justice system. This group of law enforcement professionals has its own special needs and requires its own special kind of...
Without the skill and dedication of criminal investigators, there could literally be no criminal justice system. This group of law enforcement professionals has its own special needs and requires its own special kind of support. The present article describes the special stresses and challenges of homicide and sex crime investigators, and the range of responses shown by these officers. Recommendations are provided for the proper selection and training of investigators, and the personal and professional characteristics of successful investigators are outlined. A variety of stress-coping strategies are then described, some developed by the officers themselves, others with the aid of mental health consultants. The importance of professionalism as a key feature of high-quality investigative work is highlighted, and the ways in which criminal investigators can best access the services of mental health clinicians for their own psychological well-being are discussed.
Issues of stigma for first responders accessing support for post traumatic stress.
Royle L, Keenan P, Farrell D
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927494
The literature shows that individuals with mental health problems are subjected to discrimination, prejudice, and ignorance and are significantly stigmatized Stigma occurs when elements of labelling, stereotyping, cognit...
The literature shows that individuals with mental health problems are subjected to discrimination, prejudice, and ignorance and are significantly stigmatized Stigma occurs when elements of labelling, stereotyping, cognitive separation into categories of 'us' and 'them,' status loss, and discrimination co-occur This article considers how stigma affects those with mental health problems and describes the experience of an individual police officer seeking and engaging with psychological support services following a traumatic event. The impact of issues of stigma on the therapy is described. The article further considers what may help to combat stigma and discrimination within the police culture and therefore ease the path to support for police officers.
Public safety and emergency mental health.
Miller L
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19927493
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Essential personhood: a review of the counselor characteristics needed for effective crisis intervention work.
Ottens A, Pender D, Nyhoff D
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19637500
Crisis intervention work is a distinct specialty within the broader field of professional helping. This article presents two themes in recognizing the essential characteristics of successful crisis interventionists. We d...
Crisis intervention work is a distinct specialty within the broader field of professional helping. This article presents two themes in recognizing the essential characteristics of successful crisis interventionists. We discuss the Aristotelian types of knowledge, techne, episteme, and phronesis as they apply to crisis work; identify core characteristics of therapeutic wisdom; and review the empirical findings on the characteristics of effective crisis counselors.
Religious/spiritual beliefs: a hidden resource for emergency mental health providers.
Nardi TJ
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19637499
This article identifies religious/spiritual beliefs as a hidden resource for Emergency Mental Health (EMH) providers. The purpose of the article is to encourage providers to examine their own world views, be they spiritu...
This article identifies religious/spiritual beliefs as a hidden resource for Emergency Mental Health (EMH) providers. The purpose of the article is to encourage providers to examine their own world views, be they spiritual or religious or both, as they apply to their EMH services. The article also provides suggestions and guidelines for the education/training of EMH providers in understanding and utilizing survivors' religious/spiritual beliefs.
Playing the game: psychological factors in surviving cancer.
Rom SA, Miller L, Peluso J
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19637498
Cancer is a threat that can rob a person of their physical and mental wellbeing. While cancer awareness has ventured to the forefront of social consciousness, led by surges from Lance Armstrong and other celebrities affe...
Cancer is a threat that can rob a person of their physical and mental wellbeing. While cancer awareness has ventured to the forefront of social consciousness, led by surges from Lance Armstrong and other celebrities affected by cancer, the medical world continually remains foiled in terms of regulating the many confounding variables that spawn cancer: toxins, pollutants, poor diet, etc. Yet there is a hope: one variable thought to affect cancer prognosis may be distinctly tractable: positive mental attitude (PMA). Principles of PMA that are readily utilized in the science of sports psychology to spur athletes to victory may be productively applied to the hospital arena. The parallels between sports and medicine are abundant, and can be utilized by the cancer patient to help secure victory. This paper describes the steps to victory, along with stratagems and concepts on how to keep the "opponent"--cancer--from gaining any further advantage.
Police suicide--a Web surveillance of national data.
O'Hara AF, Violanti JM
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19637497
Considerable research has been done on suicide in police work. It appears that the volume of literature on this topic has led to considerable controversy concerning the accuracy and validity of police suicide rates. This...
Considerable research has been done on suicide in police work. It appears that the volume of literature on this topic has led to considerable controversy concerning the accuracy and validity of police suicide rates. This topic has given rise to a wide variety of speculative, often wildly exaggerated figures being circulated in the law enforcement community and media, much of which is not based on verifiable research or gathered in an organized, useful manner that can be shared and scrutinized. Such figures have been taken at face value, translated into widely varying rates and profiles that, because they lack any substantiation, do little to help and much to impede the meaningful development of programs that can address the problems of police stress, trauma, posttraumatic stress, suicide, and the promotion of improved general health in the law enforcement community. This paper represents an empirical attempt to gather descriptive police suicide data from all fifty states in the U.S. for one year--2008--and record it in a cohesive manner that may be useful to researchers, police agencies, and program developers.
Police officers' experience with trauma.
Colwell LH
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2009 · PMID 19637496
This study examined officers' perceptions of the traumatic events they encounter on the job. Officers (N = 313) completed a survey asking about their experience with specific types of trauma, as well as what they conside...
This study examined officers' perceptions of the traumatic events they encounter on the job. Officers (N = 313) completed a survey asking about their experience with specific types of trauma, as well as what they considered to be their most traumatic event. They were given the opportunity to describe their unique perceptions of these events in response to open-ended questions. The results revealed vast variability in officers' experience with trauma in terms of the number, type, unique perceptions, and impact of these events. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for clinicians who treat officers affected with posttraumatic stress reactions and disorders.
Police suicide research: conflict and consensus.
Violanti JM
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2008 · PMID 19278146
Despite new frontiers in suicide research over the past ten years, police suicide remains a difficult, persistent, and controversial problem. Controversy appears to focus on the accuracy and validity of police suicide ra...
Despite new frontiers in suicide research over the past ten years, police suicide remains a difficult, persistent, and controversial problem. Controversy appears to focus on the accuracy and validity of police suicide rates, but other controversies exist as well. This is likely due to studies that are methodologically flawed, incomplete, or specific to limited geographic areas. The objective of this paper is to review issues related to both conflicts and consensus on police suicide.
Secondary trauma.
Motta RW
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2008 · PMID 19278145
A review of secondary trauma is presented. Secondary trauma involves the transfer and acquisition of negative affective and dysfunctional cognitive states due to prolonged and extended contact with others, such as family...
A review of secondary trauma is presented. Secondary trauma involves the transfer and acquisition of negative affective and dysfunctional cognitive states due to prolonged and extended contact with others, such as family members, who have been traumatized. As such, secondary trauma refers to a spread of trauma from the victim to those who have close contact with the traumatized individual. It is claimed by some that exposure to intense video presentations of traumatic events can also lead to secondary traumatization. Assessment devices are reviewed and most of these appear to be designed to assess secondary or vicarious traumatization in therapists rather than in the general population. Most scales lack cutoff scores and this is a significant weakness. The modified Stroop procedure is presented as a non-paper and pencil method of assessing secondary trauma reactions. The evaluation of the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for secondary traumatization is virtually non-existent. Systematic studies of secondary trauma are in their infancy and a good deal of further research is needed.
Overview of findings from the World Trade Center Disaster Outcome Study: recommendations for future research after exposure to psychological trauma.
Boscarino JA, Adams RE
Int J Emerg Ment Health · 2008 · PMID 19278144
In this article we review findings from the World Trade Center Disaster (WTCD) Outcomes Study, a prospective cohort study of 2,368 New York City (NYC) adults funded by the National Institutes of Health after the Septembe...
In this article we review findings from the World Trade Center Disaster (WTCD) Outcomes Study, a prospective cohort study of 2,368 New York City (NYC) adults funded by the National Institutes of Health after the September 11 attacks. The findings reported were based on a baseline survey conducted one year after the disaster and a follow-up conducted two years post-disaster. One of the goals of this research was to assess the effectiveness of post-disaster treatments received by NYC residents following the attacks. Among the major findings of this study were the relatively small increase in mental health service utilization and the fact that only brief worksite interventions seemed to be an effective post-disaster treatment intervention. Specifically, those who received more conventional post-disaster interventions, such as formal psychotherapy sessions and/or psychotropic medicines, seemed to have poorer outcomes. Since this study was designed to assess treatment outcomes, use advanced measurement techniques, and incorporate propensity score matching to control for bias, these treatment findings were unexpected and raised clinical questions. Additional findings were also discussed related to minority group members, alcohol abuse, the onset and course of posttraumatic stress disorder post-disaster and other findings. Future research is recommended to resolve the issues raised by this important study, especially as this relates to treatment outcomes.
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