The Nature of a Traumatic Stressor: Handling Dead Bodies

Ursano, Robert J.; McCarroll, James E.

doi:10.1097/00005053-199006000-00010

Cited by 129 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Several researchers have observed an association between PTSD symptoms and identification with the deceased victim in rescue workers exposed to dead bodies (Jones, 1985;Taylor & Frazer, 1982;Ursano et al, 1995;Ursano & McCarroll, 1990). Troops deployed in Operation Desert Storm who performed grave registration duties had increased PTSD symptoms, and of this group, nearly half had a current diagnosis of PTSD (Sutker et al, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…between 9 to 17%, whereas the rate of increase in psychiatric symptoms was between 10 to 60% (Anderson, Christensen, & Peterson, 1991;Clohessy & Ehlers, 1999;Marmar, Weiss, Metzler, Ronfeldt, & Foreman, 1996;McCammon, Durham, Allison, & Williamson, 1988;Sutker, Uddo, Brailey, Vasterling, & Errera, 1994;Thompson & Suzuki, 1991;Ursano, Fullerton, Kao, & Bhartiya, 1995;Ursano & McCarroll, 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Disaster workers usually report that identification with the dead and their families is particularly stressful, and the thoughts and feelings of "it could have been me, it could have been my spouse, or it could have been my friend" are common (Ursano & McCarroll, 1990). Identification is a cognitive mechanism that normally reduces distress, but may also be a risk factor for a possible illness (Ursano & Fullerton, 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Identification and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in rescue workers in the Marmara, Turkey, earthquake

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

After the 1999 Marmara Turkey earthquake, 434 volunteer rescue workers and 154 soldiers who were control subjects completed the Questionnaire for Identification with Deceased Victims and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Identification with the Deceased as Oneself, Identification with the Deceased as a Friend, Identification with the Deceased as a Family Member, and IES-R Intrusion, Avoidance, and Hyperarousal subscale scores were significantly higher in rescue workers. Identification-Self, Identification-Friend, and Identification-Family correlated with the IES-R subscale and total scores. The set of identification variables was significantly associated with group membership before, but not after, IES-R scores were controlled. Findings suggest that identification with deceased victims, not rescue work per se, is the risk factor of concern for posttraumatic stress disorder in rescue workers.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Identification and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in rescue workers in the Marmara, Turkey, earthquake

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1 However, most research on students in the medical field has asked students to think hypothetically about their death, and the study of actual exposure to cadavers outside the university context is scarce. 2 Little is known about how voluntary exposure of the general population to cadavers immediately impacts mental health indices, including stress, depressive symptoms, death anxiety, and death-related fears.…”

Section: Impact Of the Body Worlds Exhibition On Mental Health Indicementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the <em>Body Worlds]</em> Exhibition on Mental Health Indices and Death-Related Fears

Ben–Ezra¹,

Palgi²

2015

J. Clin. Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Volunteer body handlers assisted with the identification of the bodies, management of their personal effects, preparation of records, and other tasks. Such work involving exposure to the dead can be extremely stressful; individuals respond with a wide range of reactions (Ursano & McCarroll, 1990). Before workers left the scene each day, they were encouraged to come alone or together, to a room located away from the mortuary to discuss their experiences with us.…”

Section: Initial Consultationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community consultation following a major air disaster

McCarroll

Ursano

Fullerton

et al. 1992

J. Community Psychol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

United Airlines flight 232 crashed at Sioux City, Iowa, on July 19, 1989. The primary rescue workers were the men and women from the 185th Air National Guard Group. Because of the many deaths and massive destruction caused by the crash, a psychiatric consultation team was requested by the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General to assist the Air National Guard personnel. The consultation had four goals: (1) provide consultation to the Air National Guard on the mental health of the community; (2) provide direct psychiatric services on an acute basis and referral for follow‐up care, if necessary; (3) train mental health personnel as consultants following disasters; and (4) develop and implement a research plan that would address both the immediate and long‐term health consequences of the rescue work. The consultation included community‐oriented interventions directed toward reducing the effects of psychological stress on high‐risk groups. This paper describes the consultations and the 1‐year follow‐up.

show abstract

The Nature of a Traumatic Stressor: Handling Dead Bodies

Cited by 129 publications

References 0 publications

Identification and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in rescue workers in the Marmara, Turkey, earthquake

Identification and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in rescue workers in the Marmara, Turkey, earthquake

Impact of the <em>Body Worlds]</em> Exhibition on Mental Health Indices and Death-Related Fears

Community consultation following a major air disaster

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About