Research Article
Immediate Psychological Reactions in the Emergency Department Following Exposure to Potentially Traumatic Events
Sara A Freedman1,3 *, Arieh Y Shalev2,3
1School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel
2Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine New York, NY
3Center for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
- *Corresponding Author:
- Sara A Freedman
School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University
Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel
E-mail: freedman@biu.ac.il
Abstract
Objectives: Peri-traumatic reactions to potentially traumatic events are likely to play a part in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition they are the focus of psychological first aid. Most studies have retrospective data, sometimes gathered months after the event. This study reports on data collected in the Emergency Department following a traumatic event.
Methods: Consecutive admissions to a Level I trauma center following motor vehicle accident or terror attacks were assessed for objective aspects of the event, peri-traumatic distress and dissociation, while still in the Emergency Department.
Results: These show that different interventions are associated with different event types. Motor vehicle accidents appear to contain fewer objectively difficult aspects, and survivors report corresponding lower distress and dissociation.
Conclusions: These data give preliminary evidence for levels of distress and dissociation found in the first hours following a traumatic event, following different event types.
