Mirando al Cuidador: Personas Significativas de Quienes Sufren de Trastorno de Estrés Post-Traumático

Abstract

Interestingly enough, Helzer et al. (1987) and Perez-Olmos et al. (2005), mentioned that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a worldwide prevalence from 1% to 4%. It is a disorder that might emerge after a significant traumatic event. After experiencing a traumatic event, it is imperative to care for victims with PTSD. Therefore, primary caregivers or significant others, by witnessing or knowing about the traumatic event after living with the person diagnosed with PTSD, are at risk of suffering from Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder (TETS) (Figley, 1995). Therefore, ?who are the primary caregivers, of victims of PTSD, that are at risk of suffering from TETS? ?what signs, symptoms and mental disorders appear after the indirect experience of the event and primary care of the one with PTSD? This study was conducted using a narrative review. It was based on 321 studies published between 2000 and 2017. It was used academic databases such as EBSCO, LILACS, Pubmed, PsycINFO and SciELO. It was found that 75% of the studies identified the partner as the significant person. Likewise, the signs and symptoms of the significant others, were tension, anguish, and couple issues. In addition, social interaction’s issues such as attachment avoidance and negative world assumptions. I concluded that it’s needed and important to conduct research on the primary caregiver as well as his/her physical and mental care. It will allow combining the knowledge and praxis on the topic providing suitable prevention, treatment and control focused on the secondary victim.