Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29869691›Full record

SynthesisSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2018

Prevalence of PTSD and common mental disorders amongst ambulance personnel: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Katherine Petrie, Josie Milligan-Saville, Aimée Gayed, Mark Deady, Andrea Phelps, Lisa Dell, David Forbes, Richard A Bryant, Rafael A Calvo, Nicholas Glozier and 1 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 145 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
145citing papers in PubMed, 12 pooled it
64.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

145 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 358 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Trial
  14. Trial
  15. Trial
  16. Trial
  17. Paramedic perspectives on workplace peer support: a thematic analysis.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

85 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Katherine PetrieBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia.
Josie Milligan-SavilleBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia.
Aimée GayedSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Mark DeadyBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia.
Andrea PhelpsPhoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
Lisa DellPhoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
David ForbesPhoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
Richard A BryantSchool of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Rafael A CalvoSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Nicholas GlozierBrain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Samuel B HarveyBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia. s.harvey@unsw.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9580-3743
Black Dog Institute · AUThe University of Melbourne · AUThe University of Sydney · AUUNSW Sydney · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThere is increasing concern regarding the mental health impact of first responder work, with some reports suggesting ambulance personnel may be at particularly high risk. Through this systematic review and meta-analysis we aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health conditions among ambulance personnel worldwide.

methodsA systematic search and screening process was conducted to identify studies for inclusion in the review. To be eligible, studies had to report original quantitative data on the prevalence of at least one of the following mental health outcome(s) of interest (PTSD, depression, anxiety, general psychological distress) for ambulance personnel samples. Quality of the studies was assessed using a validated methodological rating tool. Random effects modelling was used to estimate pooled prevalence, as well as subgroup analyses and meta-regressions for five variables implicated in heterogeneity.

resultsIn total, 941 articles were identified across all sources, with 95 full-text articles screened to confirm eligibility. Of these, 27 studies were included in the systematic review, reporting on a total of 30,878 ambulance personnel. A total of 18 studies provided necessary quantitative information and were retained for entry in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated estimated prevalence rates of 11% for PTSD, 15% for depression, 15% for anxiety, and 27% for general psychological distress amongst ambulance personnel, with date of data collection a significant influence upon observed heterogeneity.

conclusionAmbulance personnel worldwide have a prevalence of PTSD considerably higher than rates seen in the general population, although there is some evidence that rates of PTSD may have decreased over recent decades.

Indexed as

AmbulancesAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisorderEmergency Medical TechniciansHumansStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticStress, PsychologicalAmbulance personnelCommon mental disorderEmergency servicesMeta-analysisParamedicPost-traumatic stress disorderPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID29869691
OpenAlexW2807449401

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.