The Assaultive Staff Action Program (ASAP): Thirty Year Program Analysis

Public Works Employees and Posttruamatic Stress Disorder: an At-Risk Population

Although not widely known, public works employees in the United States were designated as emergency providers during critical incidents in 2003 and have provided these public works services, when activated. These public works employees may be either employees of a specific government entity or, more recently, privately contracted employees who provide similar services for a government entity. First responders working critical incidents are at risk for psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is less clear, however, whether government/contracted public works employees working the same critical incidents are subject to the same risk of onset. This paper reviewed 24 empirical studies assessing this possible association from 1980 to 2020. These studies included 94,302 government/contracted employees. Psychological trauma/PTSD was reported in all 24 manuscripts assessing PTSD. Three of these studies additionally reporting serious somatic health problems. Public works employees are at risk for onset and this is a worldwide issue. Study findings and treatment implications are presented.

Characteristics of International Staff Victims of Psychiatric Patient Assaults: Review of Published Findings, 2017-2022

Psychiatric patient assaults on staff are a worldwide occupational hazard for health care staff that results in medical injury, human suffering, and dollar cost expense. International research through 2000-2017 documented the continued frequency of these assaults and a continuing high risk for nursing personnel. This present paper reviewed the international published literature on staff victims of patient assaults during the next five-year period of 2017-2022. There were 39,034 assaults on 34,679 employee victims. The findings indicate that assaults on staff remain a serious worldwide issue as it has been since the 1990s and that nursing personnel continued to be at greater risk. Aggression management approaches, post-incident interventions, and an updated methodological inquiry are presented.

News Journalists and Postruamatic Stress Disorder: a Review of Literature, 2011-2020

Research has demonstrated that first responders may develop psychological trauma/ posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the performance of their duties. Often overlooked in these studies of police, firefighters, and paramedics is an additional group of providers who also respond to these same events: news journalists and photo journalists. Although limited in scope, the research literature from 1980 to 2010 assessed an association between PTSD and some news journalists. The strength of these findings are limited due to serious methodological limitations. The present paper reviewed the journalist/PTSD literature from 2011 to 2020. There were 4558 subjects in 23 studies, which were world-wide in scope. There were 2633 male reporters (58%) and 1925 female journalists (42%). The average age of subjects was 34.37 years and the average length of experience was 10.68 years. Many reported either PTSD, PTSD symptoms, depression, and/or substance use. A detailed methodological critique is presented.

Psychological Trauma and the Trauma Surgeon

Research has demonstrated that first responders may develop psychological trauma/ posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the performance of their duties. Often overlooked in these studies of police, firefighters, and paramedics is an additional group of providers in this health care delivery system: the trauma surgeons, who receive the victims transported by the first responders. Although limited in scope, the research literature does identify the presence of PTSD in trauma surgeons. These studies have repeatedly cited the need for further information about psychological trauma for trauma surgeons. This paper addresses that need with a brief overview of psychological trauma, where surgeons may encounter victims, and how to cope with its aftermath.