موجز عن البحث:
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Firefighters are exposed to many traumatic
events. The psychological costs of this exposure increase the risk of
Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. This study
examined the effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) as a short-term
treatment for reducing PTSD symptoms among Saudi firefighters. A randomized
waiting-list control study was conducted with 34 traumatized firefighters
were randomly allocated to NET or Waiting-list Control (WLC). The NET group
received four therapy sessions of 60–90 min over a three-week period; those
in the WLC condition received the same sessions after a three-week waiting
period. Participants in both groups were assessed at baseline, immediately
post-intervention and at 3 and 6 month follow ups. NET led to significant
reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety and depression compared with WLC. After
the WLC group received treatment, it showed the same improvements as the NET
group. This occurred immediately post-treatment in both groups, but was not sustained
at 3 and 6 month follow ups. Coping strategies and social support led to
significant changes only in follow up times. NET was effective in reducing
PTSD symptoms in traumatised Saudi firefighters. This finding could be
helpful in the management of PTSD among people who work as first responders
such as firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personal, as well
as security officers.
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ملخص المشاركة:
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Background:
Firefighters are exposed to many traumatic events. The psychological costs of
this exposure increase the risk of Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD)
(Al-Naser & Everly, 1999; Bryant & Guthrie, 2007; Corneil, Beaton,
Murphy, Johnson, & Pike, 1999; Mitani, Fujita, Nakata, & Shirakawa,
2006; Neuner et al., 2008). In interviews with PTSD patients, clinicians and
researchers have observed that trauma memories are initially fragmented and
disorganised. According to Burnell et al. (2009), fragmented and disorganised
trauma memories can play a fundamental role in developing or maintaining PTSD
symptoms. However, as treatment progresses, they found that a more coherent,
organised, and detailed trauma narrative emerges (Gray & Lombardo, 2001).
Method: Nine
trauamtised Saudi firefighters were selected. A semi-structured interview
schedule was devised in order to explore the life story and history of the
participants in terms of: life chapters, key scenes in the life story, coping
strategies, the feelings about the interview. As McAdams (2008) life story
interview was adapted in this study. The interviews were recorded using a
digital recorder, and lasted an average of 65 minutes. Thematic analysis and
narrative analysis were conducted to develop themes allowing for the
comparison and discussion of the data across participants.
Result: In terms of
coping strategies, the study result highlighted coping mechanisms which have
been presented in the storytelling. Active coping strategies including the
religion and marriage and passive coping strategies counting alcoholism and
substance use have been used. In terms of interviews impact, when the
interviews were conducted, the participants reported comfortable feeling at
the end. They explained a more coherent, organised, and detailed trauma
narrative emerges. This finding has been reported by previous studies such
(Goncalves, Korman, & Angus, 2000; Neuner, Schauer, Klaschik, Karunakara,
& Elbert, 2004).
Conclusion:
Individuals reported comfortable feeling after the interviews, which raise
the suggestion of using narrative techniques to reduce the PTSD symptoms.
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