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Table 2 Psychological responses

From: Exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among first responders working in proximity to the terror sites in Norway on July 22, 2011 – a cross-sectional study

Mean (95% confidence interval)

Police officers n = 76

Fire-fighters n = 73

Ambulance personnel n = 89

p value

1) Feeling of numbness

1.5 (1.3-1.6)

1.6 (1.4-1.8)

1.9 (1.7-2.1)

< .05*

2) Not being aware of the surroundings

1.3 (1.2-1.4)

1.4 (1.2-1.6)

1.6 (1.4-1.8)

< .05*

3) Sense of unreality

2.2 (1.9-2.4)

2.9 (2.6-3.2)

2.7 (2.5-3.0)

< .01*

4) Feeling of not being “yourself”

1.3 (1.1-1.5)

1.3 (1.2-1.5)

1.5 (1.3-1.7)

ns

5) Did not remember what happened or parts of the event

1.6 (1.3-1.9)

1.3 (1.2-1.5)

1.5 (1.3-1.7)

ns

6) Sharpened attention

3.8 (3.5-4.0)

3.4 (3.1-3.6)

3.7 (3.4-3.9)

< .05*

7) Reduced need for sleep/rest

3.3 (3.0-3.6)

2.1 (1.8-2.4)

2.7 (2.4-3.0)

< .001**

8) Positive activation (more energy/intense sense of coping)

3.2 (2.9-3.4)

2.6 (2.4-2.9)

2.9 (2.7-3.2)

< .05*

9) Overwhelmed/helpless

2.6 (2.3-2.8)

2.6 (2.4-2.8)

2.9 (2.7-3.2)

ns

10) Lack of control

2.5 (2.2-2.8)

2.2 (2.0-2.5)

2.7 (2.4-2.9)

< .05*

  1. Note. Dissociative symptoms (1-5), arousal (6-8), and lack of coping (9-10).
  2. (Scale: 1 = not at all and 5 = to a very high degree).
  3. *p < .05, **p < .001.