Long-term effects of the terror attack in Berlin in 2016 on paranoid ideation in female emergency personnel

Abstract

In a pilot study, female emergency personnel showed increased paranoid ideation following a terror attack. This newly designed confirmatory study aims to replicate these previously found gender-specific results and investigate the progression of effects after 2 years. Participants were exposed and unexposed emergency personnel (n = 120). Exposed female versus exposed male personnel showed higher paranoid ideation at both time points. There was a group × time interaction effect in paranoid ideation: paranoid ideation increased over time in the exposed versus the unexposed female group. The same effect was observed with exposed female emergency personnel showing a significant 2-year post-deployment increase compared with the total group including unexposed female as well as exposed and unexposed male emergency personnel. There is, as yet, no conclusive explanation for this difference. Sexual harassment in a male-dominated profession may be a vulnerability factor. Differentiated preparation and follow-up for emergency responders is recommended moving towards health-related equality.

Gender Differences in Anger Among Hospital Medical Staff Exposed to Patients with COVID-19

“…Exposure to critical events can be seen as a stress factor, the impact of which may depend on the proximity to the stressor, [1][2][3] personal risk perception, 4 gender, 5,6 or occupation. 7 Vulnerability, resilience, and the current mental state are also considered relevant, [8][9][10] but are rarely recorded before disasters.…”

Influence of COVID-19 on general stress and posttraumatic stress symptoms among hospitalized high-risk patients

“…In addition, various psychiatric disorders have been found in patients in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak (Talevi et al, 2020). Thereby, the rates for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in COVID-19 affected patients appear higher when compared to PTSD rates in the general population or in emergency service staff after terrorist attacks (11% to 25%; Berninger et al 2010;Brackbill, Hadler, DiGrande, Ekenga, & Farfel, 2009;Schlenger et al 2002;Wesemann et al, 2018b;Wesemann, Mahnke, Polk, & Willmund, 2020). In addition, the rates established by Bo et al were significantly higher than those in previous studies by Fang, Zhe, and Shuran (2004) or Mak, Chu, Pan, Yiu, and Chan (2009) on patients with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).…”

“…2010; Brackbill, Hadler, DiGrande, Ekenga, & Farfel, 2009; Schlenger et al . 2002; Wesemann et al , 2018b; Wesemann, Mahnke, Polk, & Willmund, 2020). In addition, the rates established by Bo et al were significantly higher than those in previous studies by Fang, Zhe, and Shuran (2004) or Mak, Chu, Pan, Yiu, and Chan (2009) on patients with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).…”

Investigating the impact of terrorist attacks on the mental health of emergency responders: systematic review

“…Paranoid ideation increased significantly over time in exposed female personnel compared with controls. 13 Also, more hostility was displayed in police officers at both time points, as well as less environmental quality of life in firefighters at both time points, compared with controls. Physical quality of life of the firefighters was no longer impaired 2 years after the incident.…”

“…Studies on gender differences indicate a higher burden on female emergency services personnel. 10–13 Regional differences were also identified. A meta-analysis reported higher prevalence rates of PTSD in Western Europe compared with North America.…”