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Ruh Sağlığı Çalışanlarında İkincil Travmatik Stres

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 1, 140 - 146, 31.03.2025
https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1433650

Abstract

Travmatik stresle çalışan ruh sağlığı profesyonelleri, çalıştıkları kişilerle benzer şekilde travma sonrası stres bozukluğu belirtileri yaşayabilirler. Bu profesyoneller için ikincil travmatik stres önemli bir kavramdır. İkincil travmatik stres, bir ruh sağlığı çalışanının tanıdığı, değer verdiği ve profesyonel ilişki kurduğu bir kişinin yaşadığı travmatik bir olayın farkına vardığında ortaya çıkan duygular, düşünceler ve davranışları içerir. Alanyazında, ikincil travmatik stres ile ilişkilendirilen terimler arasında temsili/üstlenilmiş travma, mesleki tükenmişlik, merhamet yorgunluğu ve karşı aktarım bulunmaktadır. Artan araştırmalar, ikincil travmatik stresin kişisel travma geçmişi, mizaç, stresle başa çıkma türü ve sosyal destek düzeyleri ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu makalenin amacı, psikiyatristler, psikologlar, psikiyatri hemşireleri, sosyal hizmet uzmanları ve benzeri ruh sağlığı çalışanlarında ikincil travmatik stres ve ilgili kavramların mevcut durumunu gözden geçirmek ve güncel çalışmaları sunmaktır. Deprem gibi çeşitli travmatik deneyimlerin yaygın olduğu Türkiye'de, ruh sağlığı çalışanlarında ikincil travmatik stresin incelenmesi de önemlidir. Sağlıklı başa çıkma stratejileri, dayanıklı bir kişilik ve travma sonrası büyüme belirtilerinin gösterilmesi, ruh sağlığı profesyonellerinin psikolojik iyi oluşuna katkıda bulunabilir. Bu incelemede, ruh sağlığı profesyonellerinde ikincil travmatik stres kavramı, bu kavramla ilişkili faktörler, ikincil travmatik stresle başa çıkma mekanizmaları alanyazın ışığında açıklanmıştır. Ortaya çıkan araştırmalara dayanarak bazı öneriler belirtilmiştir.

Ethical Statement

Derleme çalışması olduğu için etik izne gerek yoktur.

Supporting Institution

Marmara Üniversitesi

Project Number

TÜBİTAK 222K105

Thanks

Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu’na 222K105 numaralı proje desteği için teşekkür ederiz.

References

  • Akdağ B, Çeleb SB, İpekten F, Usluoğlu F, Nasıroğlu S (2023) The moderating role of posttraumatic growth in secondary traumatic stress–burnout relationship: a sample of child psychiatrists from Turkey. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 30:93.
  • Akdağ B, Duygu E (2024) The Curvilinear empathy–secondary traumatic stress relationship: the more empathy, the better? (empathy, STS, and burnout in emergency physicians). J Loss Trauma, 29:76-94.
  • APA (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-5). Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association.
  • Baker J, Kelly C, Calhoun L, Cann A, Tedeschi R (2008) An examination of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic depreciation: two exploratory studies. J Loss Trauma, 13:450-465.
  • Branson DC (2019) Vicarious trauma, themes in research, and terminology: a review of literature. Traumatology, 25:2–10.
  • Brewin CR (2005) Systematic review of screening instruments for adults at risk of PTSD. J Trauma Stress, 18:53-62.
  • Bride BE (2007) Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Social Work, 52: 63-70.
  • Cann A, Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG, Solomon Z (2010) Posttraumatic growth and depreciation as independent experiences and predictors of well-being. J Loss Trauma, 15:151-166.
  • Danieli Y (1996) Who takes care of the caretakers? the emotional consequences of working with children traumatized by war and communal violence. In Minefields in Their Hearts: The Mental Health of Children in War and Communal Violence (Eds RJ Apfel, Simon B):189-205. Yale, University Press.
  • Diehm RM, Mankowitz NN, King RM (2019) Secondary traumatic stress in Australian psychologists: individual risk and protective factors. Traumatology, 25:196-202.
  • Ebren G, Demircioğlu M, Çırakoğlu OC (2022) A neglected aspect of refugee relief works: secondary and vicarious traumatic stress. J Trauma Stress, 35:891–900.
  • Figley CR (1995) Compassion fatigue: toward a new understanding of the costs of caring. In Secondary Traumatic Stress: Self-care Issues for Clinicians, Researchers, and Educators (Ed. BH Stamm):3-28. New York, The Sidran Press.
  • Gürdil Birinci G, Erden G (2016) Yardım çalışanlarında üstlenilmiş travma, ikincil travmatik stres ve tükenmişliğin değerlendirilmesi. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 31:10-26.
  • Hargrave PA, Scott KM, McDowall J (2006) To resolve or not to resolve: past trauma and secondary traumatic stress in volunteer crisis workers. Journal of Trauma Practice, 5:37-55.
  • Hensel JM, Ruiz C, Finney C, Dewa CS (2015) Meta-analysis of risk factors for secondary traumatic stress in therapeutic work with trauma victims. J Trauma Stress, 28:83-91.
  • Kahil A, Palabıyıkoğlu R (2018a) Secondary traumatic stress in Turkish aid workers: adaptation of a measure and investigation of secondary traumatic stress. Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi, 2:107-116.
  • Kahil A, Palabıyıkoğlu R (2018b) İkincil travmatik stres. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 10:59-70.
  • Kounenou K, Kalamatianos A, Nikoltsiou P, Kourmousi N (2023) The Interplay among empathy, vicarious trauma, and burnout in Greek mental health practitioners. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20:3503.
  • Leiter MP, Maslach C (1998) The impact of interpersonal environment on burnout and organizational commitment. J Organ Behav, 9:297-308.
  • Leung T, Schmidt F, Mushquash C (2022) A personal history of trauma and experience of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout in mental health workers: a systematic literature review. Psychol Trauma, 15:213-221.
  • Ligiéro DP, Gelso CJ (2002) Countertransference, attachment, and the working alliance: the therapist's contribution. Psychotherapy (Chic), 39:3-11.
  • Măirean C (2016) The relationship between secondary traumatic stress and personal posttraumatic growth: Personality factors as moderators. J Adult Dev, 23:120-128.
  • Makadia R, Sabin-Farrell R, Turpin G (2017) Indirect exposure to client trauma and the impact on trainee clinical psychologists: secondary traumatic stress or vicarious traumatization? Clin Psychol Psychother, 24:1059-1068.
  • Manning-Jones S, de Terte I, Stephens C (2017) The relationship between vicarious posttraumatic growth and secondary traumatic stress among health professionals. J Loss Trauma, 22:256-270.
  • Maslach C, Jackson S (1981) The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav, 2:99-113.
  • Newell JM, MacNeil GA (2010) Professional burnout, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Best Practices in Mental Health, 6:57-68.
  • Pearlman LA, Saakvitne KW (1995) Trauma and the Therapist: Countertransference and Vicarious Traumatization in Psychotherapy with Incest Survivors. New York, NY, WW Norton.
  • Pellegrini S, Moore P, Murphy M (2022) Secondary trauma and related concepts in psychologists: a systematic review. J Aggress Maltreat Trauma, 31:370-391.
  • Quinn A, Ji P, Nackerud L (2019) Predictors of secondary traumatic stress among social workers: supervision, income, and caseload size. J Soc Work, 19:504-528.
  • Rauvola RS, Dulce MV, Kristi NL (2019) Compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious traumatization: a qualitative review and research agenda. Occup Health Sci, 3: 297-336.
  • Rayner S, Davis C, Moore M, Cadet T (2020) Secondary traumatic stress and related factors in Australian social workers and psychologists. Health Soc Work, 45:122-130.
  • Rothschild B, Rand M (2006) Help for the Gelper: Self-care Strategies for Managing Burnout and Stress. New York, WW Norton.
  • Rzeszutek M, Partyka M, Gołąb A (2015) Temperament traits, social support, and secondary traumatic stress disorder symptoms in a sample of trauma therapists. Prof Psychol Res Pr, 46:213-220.
  • Salston MD, Figley RC (2003) Secondary traumatic stress effects of working with survivors of criminal victimization. J Trauma Stress, 16:167-174.
  • Silveria Júnior EDM, Polanczyk GV, Eizirik M, Hauck S, Eizirik CL, Ceitlin LHF (2012) Trauma and countertransference: development and validity of the assessment of countertransference scale. Braz J Psychiatry, 34:201-206.
  • Sprang G, Craig C, Clark J (2011) Secondary traumatic stress and burnout in child welfare workers. Child Welfare, 90:149-168.
  • Taku K, Cann A, Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (2020) Core beliefs shaken by an earthquake correlate with posttraumatic growth. Psychol Trauma, 12:702-710.
  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (1995) Trauma and Transformation: Growing in The Aftermath of Suffering. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage.
  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (1996) The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress, 9:455-471.
  • Tsirimokou A, Juliane AK, Sonia KD (2023) Vicarious post-traumatic growth in professionals exposed to traumatogenic material: a systematic literature review. Trauma Violence Abuse, 24:1848-1866.
  • Weathers FW, Blake DD, Schnurr PP, Kaloupek DG, Marx BP, Keane TM. (2013) The life events checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). www.ptsd.va.gov (Accessed 13.12.2022).
  • Yazıcı H, Özdemir M (2022) Predictors of secondary traumatic stress in mental health professionals: trauma history, self-compassion, emotional intelligence. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther, 41:162-175.
  • Yilmaz T (2021) Victimology from clinical psychology perspective: psychological assessment of victims and professionals working with victims. Curr Psychol, 40:1592-1600.
  • Yücel B, Akoğlu B (2023) Secondary traumatization in mental health workers. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 15:383-393.
  • Zara A, İçöz FJ (2015) Türkiye’de ruh sağlığı alanında travma mağdurlarıyla çalışanlarda ikincil travmatik stres. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 18:15-23.

Secondary Traumatic Stress in Mental Health Professionals

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 1, 140 - 146, 31.03.2025
https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1433650

Abstract

Mental health professionals working with traumatic stress may experience post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, similar to their patients. For these professionals, secondary traumatic stress can be an important concept. It involves emotions, thoughts, and actions that emerge when a mental health worker becomes aware of a catastrophic event experienced by someone familiar, valued, and connected. In the literature, terms such as vicarious trauma, occupational burnout, and compassion fatigue are associated with secondary traumatic stress. Growing research presents that secondary traumatic stress is associated with personal trauma history, temperament, type of coping with stress, and levels of social support. The aim of this paper is to review and present the current situation of secondary traumatic stress and related concepts in mental health workers such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatry nurses, social workers, and so forth. In Türkiye, where several traumatic experiences (such as earthquake) are currently common, studying secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers is also significant. Healthy coping strategies, a resilient personality, and the display of signs of post-traumatic growth can contribute to the psychological well-being of mental health professionals. In this investigation the concept of secondary traumatic stress in mental health professionals, associated factors with this concept, coping mechanisms of secondary traumatic stress are explained in the light of the literature. Based on the emerging research, some recommendations are stated.

Project Number

TÜBİTAK 222K105

References

  • Akdağ B, Çeleb SB, İpekten F, Usluoğlu F, Nasıroğlu S (2023) The moderating role of posttraumatic growth in secondary traumatic stress–burnout relationship: a sample of child psychiatrists from Turkey. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 30:93.
  • Akdağ B, Duygu E (2024) The Curvilinear empathy–secondary traumatic stress relationship: the more empathy, the better? (empathy, STS, and burnout in emergency physicians). J Loss Trauma, 29:76-94.
  • APA (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-5). Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association.
  • Baker J, Kelly C, Calhoun L, Cann A, Tedeschi R (2008) An examination of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic depreciation: two exploratory studies. J Loss Trauma, 13:450-465.
  • Branson DC (2019) Vicarious trauma, themes in research, and terminology: a review of literature. Traumatology, 25:2–10.
  • Brewin CR (2005) Systematic review of screening instruments for adults at risk of PTSD. J Trauma Stress, 18:53-62.
  • Bride BE (2007) Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Social Work, 52: 63-70.
  • Cann A, Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG, Solomon Z (2010) Posttraumatic growth and depreciation as independent experiences and predictors of well-being. J Loss Trauma, 15:151-166.
  • Danieli Y (1996) Who takes care of the caretakers? the emotional consequences of working with children traumatized by war and communal violence. In Minefields in Their Hearts: The Mental Health of Children in War and Communal Violence (Eds RJ Apfel, Simon B):189-205. Yale, University Press.
  • Diehm RM, Mankowitz NN, King RM (2019) Secondary traumatic stress in Australian psychologists: individual risk and protective factors. Traumatology, 25:196-202.
  • Ebren G, Demircioğlu M, Çırakoğlu OC (2022) A neglected aspect of refugee relief works: secondary and vicarious traumatic stress. J Trauma Stress, 35:891–900.
  • Figley CR (1995) Compassion fatigue: toward a new understanding of the costs of caring. In Secondary Traumatic Stress: Self-care Issues for Clinicians, Researchers, and Educators (Ed. BH Stamm):3-28. New York, The Sidran Press.
  • Gürdil Birinci G, Erden G (2016) Yardım çalışanlarında üstlenilmiş travma, ikincil travmatik stres ve tükenmişliğin değerlendirilmesi. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 31:10-26.
  • Hargrave PA, Scott KM, McDowall J (2006) To resolve or not to resolve: past trauma and secondary traumatic stress in volunteer crisis workers. Journal of Trauma Practice, 5:37-55.
  • Hensel JM, Ruiz C, Finney C, Dewa CS (2015) Meta-analysis of risk factors for secondary traumatic stress in therapeutic work with trauma victims. J Trauma Stress, 28:83-91.
  • Kahil A, Palabıyıkoğlu R (2018a) Secondary traumatic stress in Turkish aid workers: adaptation of a measure and investigation of secondary traumatic stress. Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi, 2:107-116.
  • Kahil A, Palabıyıkoğlu R (2018b) İkincil travmatik stres. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 10:59-70.
  • Kounenou K, Kalamatianos A, Nikoltsiou P, Kourmousi N (2023) The Interplay among empathy, vicarious trauma, and burnout in Greek mental health practitioners. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20:3503.
  • Leiter MP, Maslach C (1998) The impact of interpersonal environment on burnout and organizational commitment. J Organ Behav, 9:297-308.
  • Leung T, Schmidt F, Mushquash C (2022) A personal history of trauma and experience of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout in mental health workers: a systematic literature review. Psychol Trauma, 15:213-221.
  • Ligiéro DP, Gelso CJ (2002) Countertransference, attachment, and the working alliance: the therapist's contribution. Psychotherapy (Chic), 39:3-11.
  • Măirean C (2016) The relationship between secondary traumatic stress and personal posttraumatic growth: Personality factors as moderators. J Adult Dev, 23:120-128.
  • Makadia R, Sabin-Farrell R, Turpin G (2017) Indirect exposure to client trauma and the impact on trainee clinical psychologists: secondary traumatic stress or vicarious traumatization? Clin Psychol Psychother, 24:1059-1068.
  • Manning-Jones S, de Terte I, Stephens C (2017) The relationship between vicarious posttraumatic growth and secondary traumatic stress among health professionals. J Loss Trauma, 22:256-270.
  • Maslach C, Jackson S (1981) The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav, 2:99-113.
  • Newell JM, MacNeil GA (2010) Professional burnout, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Best Practices in Mental Health, 6:57-68.
  • Pearlman LA, Saakvitne KW (1995) Trauma and the Therapist: Countertransference and Vicarious Traumatization in Psychotherapy with Incest Survivors. New York, NY, WW Norton.
  • Pellegrini S, Moore P, Murphy M (2022) Secondary trauma and related concepts in psychologists: a systematic review. J Aggress Maltreat Trauma, 31:370-391.
  • Quinn A, Ji P, Nackerud L (2019) Predictors of secondary traumatic stress among social workers: supervision, income, and caseload size. J Soc Work, 19:504-528.
  • Rauvola RS, Dulce MV, Kristi NL (2019) Compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious traumatization: a qualitative review and research agenda. Occup Health Sci, 3: 297-336.
  • Rayner S, Davis C, Moore M, Cadet T (2020) Secondary traumatic stress and related factors in Australian social workers and psychologists. Health Soc Work, 45:122-130.
  • Rothschild B, Rand M (2006) Help for the Gelper: Self-care Strategies for Managing Burnout and Stress. New York, WW Norton.
  • Rzeszutek M, Partyka M, Gołąb A (2015) Temperament traits, social support, and secondary traumatic stress disorder symptoms in a sample of trauma therapists. Prof Psychol Res Pr, 46:213-220.
  • Salston MD, Figley RC (2003) Secondary traumatic stress effects of working with survivors of criminal victimization. J Trauma Stress, 16:167-174.
  • Silveria Júnior EDM, Polanczyk GV, Eizirik M, Hauck S, Eizirik CL, Ceitlin LHF (2012) Trauma and countertransference: development and validity of the assessment of countertransference scale. Braz J Psychiatry, 34:201-206.
  • Sprang G, Craig C, Clark J (2011) Secondary traumatic stress and burnout in child welfare workers. Child Welfare, 90:149-168.
  • Taku K, Cann A, Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (2020) Core beliefs shaken by an earthquake correlate with posttraumatic growth. Psychol Trauma, 12:702-710.
  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (1995) Trauma and Transformation: Growing in The Aftermath of Suffering. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage.
  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (1996) The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress, 9:455-471.
  • Tsirimokou A, Juliane AK, Sonia KD (2023) Vicarious post-traumatic growth in professionals exposed to traumatogenic material: a systematic literature review. Trauma Violence Abuse, 24:1848-1866.
  • Weathers FW, Blake DD, Schnurr PP, Kaloupek DG, Marx BP, Keane TM. (2013) The life events checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). www.ptsd.va.gov (Accessed 13.12.2022).
  • Yazıcı H, Özdemir M (2022) Predictors of secondary traumatic stress in mental health professionals: trauma history, self-compassion, emotional intelligence. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther, 41:162-175.
  • Yilmaz T (2021) Victimology from clinical psychology perspective: psychological assessment of victims and professionals working with victims. Curr Psychol, 40:1592-1600.
  • Yücel B, Akoğlu B (2023) Secondary traumatization in mental health workers. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 15:383-393.
  • Zara A, İçöz FJ (2015) Türkiye’de ruh sağlığı alanında travma mağdurlarıyla çalışanlarda ikincil travmatik stres. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 18:15-23.
There are 45 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Psychology, Trauma Psychology
Journal Section Review
Authors

Tuğba Yılmaz 0000-0001-9187-7665

Ece Tathan Bekaroğlu 0000-0002-8039-9116

Project Number TÜBİTAK 222K105
Publication Date March 31, 2025
Submission Date February 8, 2024
Acceptance Date June 9, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 17 Issue: 1

Cite

AMA Yılmaz T, Tathan Bekaroğlu E. Secondary Traumatic Stress in Mental Health Professionals. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. March 2025;17(1):140-146. doi:10.18863/pgy.1433650

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