Die voorkoming van post-traumatiese stres: die evaluering van 'n ontlontingsprogram

English: From the literature it is evident that PTSD is a serious disorder which affects all segments of the society. A number of researchers have conducted research with reference to the prevalence of PTSD in the broader society and in high-risk groups. The development of PTSD is related to exposure to a traumatic incident, and does not develop in the absence of these instances. From the literature it is also evident that some controversy exists regarding the possibility to prevent the development of PTSD. Some writers are of the opinion that intervention directly after exposure to a traumatic situation can prevent the development of PTSD, while others are of the opinion that in certain instances intervention can do more harm than good. The hypothesis was stated that exposure to a trauma intervention proqrarnrne will reduce the development of PTSD in high-risk groups in order to determine the effectiveness of this intervention programme. Literature states that a variety of biological, psychodynamic, social and cultural factors are related to the development of PTSD. The hypothesis that various variables (such as biological variables, type of trauma and the involvement of the victim, and the way in which the intervention programme was experienced) are related to the development of PTSD, was formed. In the first instance PTSD was studied as a psychiatric disorder. Thereafter it was important to discuss trauma as a cause of PTSD. There was referred to crime in South Africa and the impact that it has on exposure to traumatic incidents in our country. Seventy-seven victims of trauma, who were seen by the trauma workers between December 1998 and December 1999, were included in the study. The prevalence of PTSD was determined in this group, and the chi-square test for independence was administered to determine the relationship between various dependent and independent variables and the prevalence of PTSD. Results are as follows: o A total of 31% of the subjects was diagnosed with PTSD. o From the study it was clear that only two variables seemed to be related to the development of PTSD: D The incidence of PTSD in people involvement in trauma (persons who were victims of a traumatic incident) was higher than in those who were only eyewitnesses or friends/family of the victim. D Time of intervention. Persons who were subjected to a shorter period of intervention (less than half an hour) tended to develop PTSD to a higher degree than those who had undergone a longer period of intervention. Apart from important conclusions that could be made from the results, the study was valuable due to the fact that it is, however, evident that further research regarding the effectiveness of the intervention programme is inevitable.