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Coroners and PTSD: Treatment Implications

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Abstract

Experimental studies have documented the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders. These studies have routinely included police, firefighters, and paramedics. However, there is another group of first responders that are at risk for PTSD but that has received less research attention. This group is comprised of coroners. This paper reviewed the published data concerning coroners and PTSD and outlined various treatments for addressing coronial PTSD. The findings, the differing treatments, and a detailed methodological inquiry are presented. The need for a conceptual framework for the various other professional groups responding to critical incidents and a crisis intervention approach to address the psychological needs of both family survivors and coronial personnel are noted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Raymond B. Flannery Jr

  2. Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Psychiatry, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Raymond B. Flannery Jr

  3. National Public Safety Solutions, Inc., National Public Safety Solutions, Inc. , Burlington, MA, USA

    Thomas Greenhalgh

Authors
  1. Raymond B. Flannery Jr
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  2. Thomas Greenhalgh
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Correspondence to Raymond B. Flannery Jr.

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The corresponding author, writing on behalf of both authors, states that there are no potential conflicts of interest of any kind in this submission to Psychiatric Quarterly.

Human and Animal Studies

This review of published findings involved no direct research for this manuscript that involved human or animal participants.

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Thus, there was no need for an IRB review or informed consent.

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Flannery, R.B., Greenhalgh, T. Coroners and PTSD: Treatment Implications. Psychiatr Q 89, 765–770 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-018-9580-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-018-9580-9

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