Post-traumatic stress symptomatology among health care professionals in Croatia.

Post-traumatic stress symptomatology was found in 22 of 25 health care professionals working in postwar Croatia. Assessment of exposure to war trauma and of the subjective impact of this exposure found the former more predictive of post-traumatic stress. Results suggest that the situations faced by health care professionals in war and postwar environments may be considered independent traumatic stressors, and that the symptomatology arising from such exposure may last for years. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.