Title: Chronic traumatic stress disorder: Fact or fictional

Biography:

Miranda Wessels is a MBChB student at the university of South Africa. She has completed her Diploma in Architecture at the Tshwane university of Technology in 2015. She completed her BAA qualification in 2015. She is part of the training network of the CPR – AED initiative. She is currently busy developing a conference which focus awareness on mental health amongst health faculty students.Miranda is still operational in the pre-hospital environment working for Netcare 911, as well as working in-hospital for Vermaak and Partners Pathologist.

Abstract

Chronic traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that develop in certain people due to chronic exposure to stress, high pressured expectations and high cognitive demands. It is important to look at factors causing CTSD in Emergency medical personal. Causing factors that is mostly seen in emergency medical personal includes extended working hours, high pressure working environments and excessive emotional demands. Focus is necessary on how to overcome these factors and how to prevent future relapse. Physicians need to be aware of behavioural symptoms like hostility, social isolation, agitation etc. Physiological symptoms such as fear, severe anxiety and insomnia can also be experienced. CTSD is treatable and methods for better awareness should be established.