LPAC's Bibliography of Related Articles on:

Vicarious Trauma

Compassion Fatigue - Because You Care, St. Petersburg Bar Association Magazine, February 2006

Recent research shows that a growing number of attorneys who work with victims of trauma are exhibiting a high rate of Compassion Fatigue symptoms. In fact, lawyers are four times more likely to suffer from depression than the general public. They also have a higher rate of suicide and substance abuse. Most attorneys, when asked, stated that their formal education lacked adequate training in dealing with trauma. Besides working directly with trauma victims, one of the main reasons attorney can develop compassion fatigue is because of the demanding case loads, and long hours that are typical to this profession.

Figley, C. R. (1995) Compassion Fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized, New York: Bruner/ Mazel

Patricia Spataro. The Co-Morbid Nature of Post-Traumatic Stress and Addiction, excerpted from LAT, The New York State Lawyer Assistance Trust (Spring 2007)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a term for severe psychological reaction to exposure to stressful events that the person experiences as highly traumatic. Clinically, such events involve actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity to a degree that defies an individual’s normal coping skills. The person’s response to the event involves intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

Symptoms of PTSD include; intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, jumpiness, nervousness, numbness, avoidance of people and places, insomnia, depression, anger, aggression, memory loss, and a myriad of physical problems as well as relationship problems. Though the traumatic event may take just moments, it can take a person time to deal with effects. Trauma victims are driven to find ways to alleviate the intense pain associated with post traumatic stress. As with any form of stress there are healthy and unhealthy ways to cope. Recent advances in treatment modalities provide more hope in effectively addressing the symptoms of PTSD. Even with effective treatment, trauma victims don’t readily access treatment and resources, and resort to self-medication for relief.

Several studies report high rates of co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Avoidance of reminders and associated symptoms may be achieved by the use of drugs and alcohol. Ironically, a life of alcohol and drug abuse can lead to further exposure to traumatic events or situations. It is important in helping lawyers, judges, and law student with addictions to be aware of the impact unprocessed and untreated trauma can have on recovery. Appropriate referral to treatment providers who are skilled in the treatment of a dual diagnosis of PTSD and addiction is vital.

Patricia Spataro. Vicarious Trauma: An Overlooked Source of Burnout, excerpted from LAT, The New York State Lawyer Assistance Trust (Summer 2007)

Judges and attorneys are regularly exposed to the trauma experienced by their clients. Individuals seek legal counsel and go to court as the result of a tragic accident, unthinkable domestic violence, or heinous crime. Trying to be stoic and denying the affect this can have on you can make you more vulnerable. The fact is that those who are exposed to vicarious trauma suffer many of the same reactions that victims suffer including:

• Repetitive images of the trauma
• Avoiding reminders of the incident
• Preoccupation with certain aspects of the event
• Intrusive thoughts or nightmares
• Hypersensitivity to related reminders such as news stories, movies
• Feeling overprotective or fearful for safety of loved ones
• Diminished interest in hobbies or fun, social activities
• Increased general mistrust of humankind

Left unaddressed, these reactions can lead to physical problems and illness, emotional instability, work related problems, relationship problems, as well as addiction and other mental health problems…just as it does for victims.

McCann, L. & Pearlman, L. Psychological Trauma and the Adult Survivor, New York: Bruner/Mazel (1990)

McCann, I.L., & Pearlman, L.A., Vicarious traumatization: A framework for understanding the psychological effects of working with victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3 131 – 149, (1990)

Saakvitne, K.W., Pearlman, L.A., & the Staff of the Traumatic Stress Institute. Transforming the pain: A workbook on vicarious traumatization. New York: W.W. Norton. (1996)

Schauben, L.J., & Frazier, P.A.). Vicarious trauma: The effects on female counselors of working with sexual violence survivors. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19(1), 49-64 (1995)

Stamm, B.H. (Ed.).(1999). Secondary traumatic stress: Self-care issues for clinicians, researchers, and educators, 2^nd Edition. Lutherville, MD: Sidran Press.

Wilson, John P. and Lindy, J. Counter-Transference Processes in the Study and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. New York: Guilford Press, Inc, (1994)

John P. Wilson, Matthew J. Friedman, and Jacob D. Lindy, Treating Psychological Trauma and PTSD, paperback (2004)

Patricia Spataro. The Co-Morbid Nature of Post-Traumatic Stress and Addiction, excerpted from LAT, The New York State Lawyer Assistance Trust (Spring 2007)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a term for severe psychological reaction to exposure to stressful events that the person experiences as highly traumatic. Clinically, such events involve actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity to a degree that defies an individual’s normal coping skills. The person’s response to the event involves intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

Symptoms of PTSD include; intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, jumpiness, nervousness, numbness, avoidance of people and places, insomnia, depression, anger, aggression, memory loss, and a myriad of physical problems as well as relationship problems. Though the traumatic event may take just moments, it can take a person time to deal with effects. Trauma victims are driven to find ways to alleviate the intense pain associated with post traumatic stress. As with any form of stress there are healthy and unhealthy ways to cope. Recent advances in treatment modalities provide more hope in effectively addressing the symptoms of PTSD. Even with effective treatment, trauma victims don’t readily access treatment and resources, and resort to self-medication for relief.

Several studies report high rates of co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Avoidance of reminders and associated symptoms may be achieved by the use of drugs and alcohol. Ironically, a life of alcohol and drug abuse can lead to further exposure to traumatic events or situations. It is important in helping lawyers, judges, and law student with addictions to be aware of the impact unprocessed and untreated trauma can have on recovery. Appropriate referral to treatment providers who are skilled in the treatment of a dual diagnosis of PTSD and addiction is vital.

Patricia Spataro. Vicarious Trauma: An Overlooked Source of Burnout, excerpted from LAT, The New York State Lawyer Assistance Trust (Summer 2007)

Judges and attorneys are regularly exposed to the trauma experienced by their clients. Individuals seek legal counsel and go to court as the result of a tragic accident, unthinkable domestic violence, or heinous crime. Trying to be stoic and denying the affect this can have on you can make you more vulnerable. The fact is that those who are exposed to vicarious trauma suffer many of the same reactions that victims suffer including:

• Repetitive images of the trauma
• Avoiding reminders of the incident
• Preoccupation with certain aspects of the event
• Intrusive thoughts or nightmares
• Hypersensitivity to related reminders such as news stories, movies
• Feeling overprotective or fearful for safety of loved ones
• Diminished interest in hobbies or fun, social activities
• Increased general mistrust of humankind

Left unaddressed, these reactions can lead to physical problems and illness, emotional instability, work related problems, relationship problems, as well as addiction and other mental health problems…just as it does for victims.