Longitudinal Mental Health Effects of the 2016 Terrorist Attack in Berlin on Various Occupational Groups of Emergency Service Personnel

Emergency service personnel who respond to terrorist attacks may experience persistent stress following the event. This occupational stress must be examined in order to develop occupation-specific response preparation and follow-up measures. An explorative pilot study examined the occupational stress-related effects of the 2016 terrorist attack on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin on emergency service personnel. The present study examines whether the results of the pilot study can be replicated and whether the effects changed after 2 years. The participants were 60 emergency personnel (including 11 police officers and 24 firefighters) who were deployed to the attack, and a control group of 60 personnel (including 37 police officers and 21 firefighters) who were not deployed. Data on stress, quality of life, and current mental state were gathered 3 to 4 months after the attack and 18 to 21 months after the first survey. The data showed that police officers who responded to the attack had significantly higher levels of aggression and hostility at both time points, and firefighters had significantly lower levels of environmental quality of life at both time points. Quality of life in terms of physical health for firefighters could not be replicated. Due to the different types of stress experienced by emergency service personnel, a differentiated approach is necessary. More specific preparation and follow-up measures are necessary to counteract persistent stress. Further research in this area could lead to specific predeployment and postdeployment training measures.