Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Therapists from the Oklahoma City Bombing

Little empirical research has been done to examine the effects that working with traumatized individuals has had on their therapists. It is known that mental health professionals often do suffer ill effects, especially symptoms of secondary traumatic stress disorder. The present investigation tested predictors of secondary traumatic stress disorder in the therapists who provided services for the Oklahoma City bombing. Predictors were therapist social network involvement, years of counseling experience, and amount of self-reported empathy experienced from others. Indicators of secondary traumatic stress were the Frederick Reaction Index-A, the Compassion Fatigue Self-test for Helpers, and the SCL-90R. Hypotheses were tested using a series of hierarchical multiple regressions. Results demonstrated no significance for years of experience or social network, but perceived empathy accounted for 11% of the variance on the SCL-90 and the Compassion Fatigue Self-test for Psychotherapists with social network and years of experience controlled.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

1999

Author dc:creator

• Landry, Lisa Pinkenburg

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jenkins, Sharon Rae
• Sewell, Kenneth W.
• Watkins, C. Edward
• Neal, David

• Psychotherapists -- Job stress.
• Psychotherapists -- Psychology.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995 -- Psychological aspects.
• traumatized individuals
• perceived empathy
• psychotherapy

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Landry, Lisa Pinkenburg
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 44800015
untcat: b2219818
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2189/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2189

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2189