1. Research in Trauma: Shocks, Shrinks and Statistics
Crisis Intervention & Management, Australasia
1st December 2015
John Durkin PhD

2. Introduction
Observation
Hypothesis
Test
Results
Interpretation

3. Write your shoe size on…
A Blue Post-it if you’re a man
A Yellow Post-it if you’re a woman

4. Stick it on the wall Round up half sizes
Women right (Yellow) - men left (Blue)

5. Stick it on the wall Round up half sizes
Women right (Yellow) - men left (Blue)

6. Stick it on the wall

7. Is there a difference?

8. Is there a difference?
7.7
9.0

9. Who changed?
12.5
29.5

10. Who changed?
12.5
29.5

11. Who changed?

12. Background
Notts F&RS supported Dr John Durkin during his PhD at the University of Nottingham
FF Paul Meakin trained in TIR, February 2014
Trained counsellor with a long interest in psychological stress
Committed to the wellbeing of colleagues

13. Proposal
Implement a peer-support programme within Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
Train key individuals in Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) - an evidence-based approach to trauma
Run a 3-month pilot project with FF Paul Meakin delivering sessions to volunteer staff
12 staff: Nine completed questionnaires

14. Introduction Information placed on intranet from early-2015
Nine volunteers - operational and non-operational
Posttraumatic stress (incident) = 5/5
Life stress (e.g., bereavement, conflict) = 8/9
Measured:
Posttraumatic stress
Symptoms of depression

15. Posttraumatic Stress Impact of Event Scale (IES)
0 - 75: Higher scores indicate higher distress
Cut-off for PTSD = 35

16. Depression/Happiness
Short Depression-Happiness Scale
0 - 18: Lower scores indicate more depression
Cut-off for depression/happiness ≈ 9

17. Findings Posttraumatic stress (IES cutoff for PTSD = 35)
Four staff reported single incidents
Pre-session = Post-session = 24.0
Depression/Happiness (SDHS cutoff ≈ 9.0)
Five staff reported unwanted problems
Pre-session = Post-session = 11.6

18. Findings IES SDHS Cutoff 18 15 12 9 6 3 70 60 50 40 35 30 20 1018 15 12 9 6 3
Posttraumatic stress reduced (5/5)
Depression improved (8/9)
Cutoff
Before After Before After

19. Findings
IES
SDHS 70 60 50 40 35 30 20 10 18 15 12 9 6 3
Before After Before After

20. Findings
IES
SDHS 70 60 50 40 35 30 20 10 18 15 12 9 6 3
Before After Before After

21. “Rate how these affect your life…”
Additional Data
All voluntary
Nine meetings: all-single session
11 to 27 days from session to follow-up
Average ≈ 17.5 days
Individual Impact Scale
“Rate how these affect your life…”
1 = not affected 10 = hugely affected

22. Individual Impact Scale
Pre-session Post-session
Sleeping Sleeping 1
At Work At Work 2
Bereavement Bereavement 6
Sleeping Sleeping 2
Relationships Relationships 1

23. Individual Impact Scale (one person)
Pre-session Post-session Trust 8 Trust 2 Anger 10 Anger 7 Sleeping 8 Sleeping 1 Alcohol 8 Alcohol 2 Medication 8 Medication 0

24. Pilot Project: Peer Support and Traumatic Incident Reduction
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, UK
June 2015

25. Comments: Using peers
“Paul is the perfect person for this as he is a fire fighter and a trusted independent person. I cannot emphasize enough the difference he made.”
“With all due respect to other professionals in this field I felt more at ease talking to a fellow firefighter about my problem.”

26. Comments: Using peers
“Having seen psychotherapists through the NHS the fact Paul was a fire fighter made a massive difference, as I had confidence that he knew exactly what I was going through.”
“It was better for me personally to be able to talk to somebody I know, trust, and relate to and know they in turn can relate to and appreciate the issue concerned.”

27. Comments: Effectiveness
“I found the peer-support intervention a great help.”
“This is a new approach and the benefits are immense. It is highly important for fire fighters to talk about their experiences, not only after recent trauma, but also for lasting trauma like PTSD.”

28. Comments: Effectiveness
“..I felt I was better able to process my thoughts in a more positive manner and felt much better about the problem I was dealing with.” “What I can say is that all the issues that I spoke about do not actually have a thought in my head anymore it’s as though they have been cleansed and dealt with.”

29. Comments: Recommendations
“There will be no hesitation on my part to advocate this to any of my colleagues.” “I certainly highly recommend your services to anyone that may require any further assistance from you…” “If it would help the project then I am happy for my name to be disclosed… Thanks mate.”

30. Conclusion Shocks, Shrinks and Statistics
Does a scale really measure trauma?
If you don’t measure it it doesn’t exist
Group statistics mask individual changes
Ask individuals to endorse (or challenge) the changes

31. Research in Trauma: Shocks, Shrinks and Statistics
Crisis Intervention & Management, Australasia
1st December 2015
John Durkin PhD