The effects of a specialized staff training on trauma-sensitivity in professionals working with patients with a psychotic disorder: A pilot study

Background: Studies show that the trauma-sensitivity of professionals working with patients with psychosis is insufficient. As a result, trauma-related problems remain undetected and untreated, which may impede recovery in this group. This study explored the effects of a specialised staff training on six trauma-sensitivity factors (i.e. knowledge, credibility, expected burden, harm expectancy, diagnostic competency and organizational support), self-reported trauma-sensitive behaviour and objective indicators of trauma-sensitive behaviour in medical files. Method: Professionals (N = 56) rated the six trauma-sensitivity factors and their own trauma-sensitive behaviour at pre-training, post-training and at 6- and 12-months follow-up. Changes in indicators of trauma-sensitive behaviours were assessed by a review of medical files (N = 97). Results: The specialized training increased knowledge, crediblity and experienced diagnostic compentence. The training decreased burden and harm expectancies, and enhanced self-reported trauma-sensitive behaviour. However, this positive change could not be objectified by indicators of trauma-sensitive behaviour in medical files. Discussion: These findings support the notion that specialised training has a positive effect on increasing trauma-sensitivity and decreasing burden and harm expectancies, but not necessarily on observable trauma-sensitive behaviour. In addition to training staff, structural implementation and organisational support are argued to be essential to attain actual behaviour change.