Geisinger Health System senior investigator Joseph Boscarino and colleagues examined psychological stress, job burnout and secondary trauma among 236 New York City social workers following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The study, published in the May issue of Research on Social Work Practice, found that involvement in World Trade Center recovery effort was the primary reason why social workers experienced secondary trauma. Secondary trauma includes experiencing symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder such as having nightmares or flashbacks, being easily startled and avoiding situations that remind one of the original trauma.

"Listening to a person's traumatic experiences can be a very difficult experience for a clinician," Boscarino said in a statement. "Sometimes caregivers need emotional support of their own and if they don't get it, they can become emotionally ill."