Prevalence and predictors of early traumatic stress reactions in assaulted psychiatric nurses

Abstract The effects of workplace violence were investigated in a group of 39 psychiatric nurses. Comparisons were made between assaulted nurses and a control group matched for age and occupational grade. The dependent variables were traumatic stress responses, general psychological distress, concurrent stressors and workplace danger. Most assaults were physically minor but two participants (5%) met the criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Assaulted staff reported poorer mental health than controls and poorer anger control than at baseline. Psychological distress was higher following assaults resulting in physical injury and staff who were repeatedly assaulted reported either significantly higher or significantly lower distress than those assaulted once. This may indicate early differentiation into violence-distressed and violence-habituated groups.