General public definition
- Secondary traumatic stress is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Secondary traumatic stress describes a mental health condition that results from indirect exposure to details of one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events in the course of professional duties. Such indirect exposure is also known as vicarious trauma.
- This is an evolving term. Secondary traumatic stress may be an occupational hazard of the helping professions, that is, people in these occupations may be at higher risk of developing secondary traumatic stress.
Academic definition
- Secondary traumatic stress is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Secondary traumatic stress is a mental health condition that may occur as a result of indirect exposure to details of one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events in the course of professional duties such as hearing the content of psychologically traumatic events experiences from patients or clients. Secondary traumatic stress is an occupational hazard of first responders, trauma care workers, and health care professionals who work with traumatized individuals.
- Secondary traumatic stress reactions can be similar to the symptoms experienced by those with posttraumatic stress disorder, and can include symptoms like reexperiencing, hypervigilance, and avoidance.
- Secondary traumatic stress falls within the category of “empathy-based” stress outcomes for caregivers. This category also includes constructs such as compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. The driving cause of secondary traumatic stress is an empathic relationship that is the conduit for exposure to details of one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events.
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