Peritraumatic tonic immobility response is associated with increase of PTSD symptoms in healthcare professionals after six months: the longitudinal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed healthcare professionals to several life-threatening traumatic events, such as personally witnessing patients, family members and/or coworkers die from the disease, exposure to critically ill patients with COVID-19, being infected or transmitting the virus to someone very close. These situations might leave health professionals more exposed and vulnerable to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, peritraumatic defensive responses, such as the tonic immobility (TI), may be evoked under these extremely threatful events. TI seems to be an important vulnerability factor for PTSD when investigated in cross-sectional studies.