The need for the study arose out of the lack of scientific validated data
regarding the treatment of Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder (STSD)/compassion
fatigue among emergency rescue workers as well as the need for a
cost effective treatment plan that would address the serious need for
emergency rescue workers in South Africa. The effects of STSD are often as
debilitating as that of PTSD. It hampers the sufferer unable to operate as well
as they previously did. As a result they may present with lower productivity at
work as well as psycho-social problems. This research focuses on the
development of a short term action centred clinical personological treatment
programme for adult emergency rescue workers who developed STSD/ compassion
fatigue and co-morbid symptoms of burnout as a result of exposure
to critical incidents. The action centred personological treatment programme
proved to be effective in the treatment of symptoms of STSD/compassion
fatigue and burnout without significantly reducing the candidates' potential
for compassion satisfaction. This study would be of interest to professionals
in the fields of psychiatry , psychology and emergency rescue work.