Our study shows that the endogenous opioid system affects how sensitive we are and may explain why some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) merely by observing others who are experiencing traumatic events"
The part that pisses me off the most is in bold.
Witnessing (observing) others is a qualifying trauma. :banghead: Although not in the way they conducted their study, unless it's the long term 2nd hand exposure via media some professions require. The day distance breaks... Surpasses burnout to the Nth degree.
Although coming in 2nd place is the study's rather fast & loose associations with Anxiety Syndrome, Anxiety, PTSD, & various aspects of the psychology of fear. They read like they're fishing for funding. I usually like swedish studies. They
usually have huge numbers (one of my favs involves a few hundred thousand over 3 going on 4 generations, now
that's motherf*cking data). This one? Not so much. 43 people over 3 days? Granted, talk about Mengelian, blocking opioid receptors and then subjecting them to pain :wtf: No f*cking shit people were scared. I'd be surprised if they weren't scared by the Easter Bunny being unable to find his basket, much less anything real-life & gruesome.
The opioid system is supposed to alleviate pain and fear but it does not work as effectively in all of us, which might be one of the reasons why some people develop anxiety syndrome merely by seeing others experience a trauma.
I also have to disagree with their prelim conclusions. I'd say their study points far more effectively at why so many people drink & use opiates in trauma intensive jobs, (not to mention almost ritualistically after a shock, in some cultures) more than casts light on how witnessing traumatic events can cause (spin the wheel of their disorder of the paragraph).
Vicarious trauma is a well known phenomenon in the humanitarian aid world.
Just seconding this, although it doesn't really need to be.
