A systematic review exploring the presence of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress in alcohol and other drug clinicians

Abstract

The terms secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma are often used in literature to describe emotional consequences for health professionals working with traumatised clients. While research has paid some attention to social workers, care givers and other health professions in contact with traumatised clients, little specific attention has been paid to clinicians working in the alcohol and drug field. This article reports on a systematic review of literature that looked at what had been said about one or more of the three terms outlined above, for professionals that work within the alcohol and drug field. The aim of this review is twofold. Firstly, to increase awareness of an issue that appears to have gone unnoticed within this sector. Secondly, to highlight the importance of such awareness for clinicians and those involved in managing services within this sector. The current review found few published papers that investigated these terms with reference to alcohol and drug clinicians. However, the available literature reviewed did show that alcohol and drug clinicians are at risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. No literature was found that discussed vicarious trauma. The implications of this absence of literature are discussed, particularly with reference to the health and wellbeing of alcohol and drug clinicians. Recommendations for future research in this area are discussed