Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder NURSE in Republic of KOREA

This study was attempted to identify what traumatic event the ward nurses experience and what experience of PTSD by that is before development of program to manage the PTSD in nurses. The mental shock left in the people after suffering from the shock or disaster such as war, natural disaster, violence, etc. refers to trauma and the mental and physical symptoms appeared after the trauma are collectively referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder. The horrible event is the cause. However, its reaction may be varied how to accept the event. The symptoms may appear after the shock or after several days or years depending on the individual. In case of acute disorder, the prognosis is relatively good but in case of chronic disorder, as the aftereffect is serious, only 30% of the patients can recover, 40% show mild symptoms and rest cannot return to society with the moderate symptoms. The symptoms can be divided mainly into the hypersensitivity reaction, experiencing the shock again, emotional avoidance or paralysis. The patient having hypersensitivity shows the symptom of being always anx-ious, being on the alert about surrounding and not sleeping well. The treatment is generally made with counselling and medication at the same time. Generally, the psycho-therapy is proceeded in the form of personal interview or group interview and maintained for 6 to 12 weeks. The family friends and sometimes even the colleagues are participated to help understanding of patient. According to the type of trauma, the cognitive behavioral therapy, which make them face with their fear, are used. Sertraline (drug name: Zoloft) and paroxetine (drug name: Paxil), etc, the antidepressant, are prescribed. Other anti-psychotropic medicines are prescribed with the sleep aids. Sharing the experience with those who experienced the similar event such as veteran group helps alleviating the symptoms. Of course, it can be healed through the medicine or psychological therapeutic approach by the expert to over-come the current difficulties but as the saying that the origin of all diseases is the mind, the will of him/herself is essential. Although the research and therapeutic technique on the PTSD may be insufficient, it is deemed to be observed having more interests in the modern age that various events occur very much. The development of intervention program is required to prevent and manage the symptom of PTSD in nurses and the medical checkup on the mental health problem should be included in the regular health checkup.