General public definition
- Vicarious traumatic stress is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Vicarious traumatic stress is the stress that a person feels when they learn about a potentially psychologically traumatic event experienced by another person.
- Vicarious traumatic stress is also known as secondary traumatic stress.
- See also the “Vicarious trauma” section.
Academic definition
- Vicarious traumatic stress is currently not listed as a diagnosis in either the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Vicarious traumatic stress is the stress that can occur following indirect exposure to a potentially psychologically traumatic event (e.g. learning about another person’s traumatic experience) or exposure to a traumatized person (e.g. when providing professional or personal support or care to a person who has been traumatized).
- Vicarious traumatic stress is also known as secondary traumatic stress.
- See also the “Vicarious trauma” section.
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