Firefighters under alert: psychological morbidity, empathy and alexithymia between firefighters and non-firefighters

Firefighters have high exposure to traumatic events and an increased risk of developing symptoms related trauma. The current study assessed the psychological morbidity, empathy alexithymia volunteer firefighters compared career non-firefighter comparators from general population. Group differences were using multivariate comparisons univariate tests discriminant analysis for individual measures. A total 1062 individuals completed protocol. Considering as focus analysis, data suggested that both presented higher trauma than comparison group. In subscales empathy, group, scored on perspective-taking scale, while showed less personal discomfort fantasy. alexithymia, in outward-oriented style thinking findings suggest need more prevention treatment efforts firefighters, with introduction educational therapeutic interventions.