Risk of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Treating Traumatized Military Populations: Results from the PTSD Clinicians Exchange

Abstract Introduction This study examined risk factors for secondary traumatic stress (STS) in behavioral health clinicians and whether access to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinicians Exchange website mitigated STS risk. Methods A diverse sample of clinicians (N = 605) treating traumatized military populations in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense, and community practice settings were randomized to a newsletter-only control group or the exchange group. The exchange website included resources for treating PTSD and promoting clinician well-being. Online surveys were administered at 0-, 6-, and 12-months postrandomization. Regression analyses were used to examine the link among risk factors, exchange access, and STS. Results Baseline clinician demographics, experience, total caseload, appeal of evidence-based practices (EBPs), and likelihood of adopting EBPs if required were not linked with STS at the 12-month assessment period. Providing care at the VA, more burnout, less compassion satisfaction, greater trauma caseload, less openness to new EBPs, and greater divergence from EBP procedures were linked with greater STS. Only burnout and divergence were associated with STS after accounting for other significant STS risk factors. Exchange and control group clinicians reported similar STS levels after accounting for burnout and divergence. Conclusions Given that burnout was linked with STS, future intervention may use techniques targeting burnout and STS (eg, emotion regulation strategies). Research exploring the link between divergence from EBPs and STS may inform EBP dissemination efforts and STS interventions. Finally, results highlight the need for research optimizing STS intervention efficacy among clinicians treating military populations.