Definitions of Concepts Related to Psychological Sequelae of Trauma Exposure
| Concept | Definition | Specificity to Trauma | Specificity to Professionals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnout8 | Emotional exhaustion in a professional resulting from differences between expectations/aspirations for interpersonal work and the depleting conditions of workplace reality | No | Yes |
| Vicarious trauma16 | Natural response to highly demanding professional work with trauma material; can lead to long term changes in examiner attitudes and beliefs | Yes | Yes |
| Compassion fatigue14 | Overwhelming feelings of suffering, sorrow, or sympathy arising from desire to reduce suffering of others | No | Yes |
| Secondary traumatic stress10 | Natural behaviors and emotions resulting from knowledge of a traumatizing event, associated with wanting to help a victim | Yes | Yes |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder17 | Clinical syndrome of discrete symptoms (intrusive phenomena; avoidance; mood, cognitive, and arousal abnormalities) following exposure to a serious traumatic event | Yes | No |