POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS IN NONEXPOSED, VICTIMS, AND SPONTANEOUSRESCUERS AFTER AN AVALANCHE

A company from the Norwegian Army was investigated 2 weeks and 4 month s after they were hit by an avalanche during a winter exercise. The su bjects were divided into victims, spontaneous rescuers, and nonexposed subjects. The results showed that exposed subjects (victims and rescu ers) reported higher levels of symptoms compared to nonexposed subject s. No differences were found among exposed subjects. The level of symp toms was also higher than comparable previous research both on victims and professional rescuers or nonprofessionals assigned a role as resc uers. All groups showed decrement in symptoms on the 4-month follow-up .