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Background <p>Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) personnel are routinely exposed to human remains under extreme operational conditions. Although the psychological impact of this work has been increasingly recognized, post-traumatic stress disorder and related trauma-associated outcomes remain insufficiently characterized in forensic and DVI-related occupations, particularly in forensic odontology (FO). This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related psychological outcomes among personnel involved in work with human remains in DVI and mass fatality settings, with particular emphasis on forensic odontology.</p> Main body <p>A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews framework. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by manual searches and targeted Google Scholar screening. Studies evaluating occupational exposure to human remains in DVI, disaster, or mass fatality operations and reporting trauma-related psychological outcomes were considered eligible. Sixteen studies published between 1982 and February 2026 were included. The literature described post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), psychological distress, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and related emotional responses among personnel involved in body recovery, mortuary operations, postmortem (PM) identification, and disaster response activities. Reported risk factors included direct exposure to severely damaged remains, prolonged operational involvement, limited prior experience, inadequate preparation, and insufficient institutional support. Protective factors included training, anticipatory preparation, team cohesion, peer support, and psychological coping strategies. Evidence specifically addressing forensic odontologists and other dental personnel involved in forensic identification remained limited. The available studies frequently grouped together professionals with markedly different levels of forensic specialization, DVI experience, and psychological preparation, limiting more precise understanding of occupational vulnerability within FO. Considerable heterogeneity was also observed regarding study design, populations, outcome definitions, and assessment instruments.</p> Conclusion <p>Exposure to human remains within DVI systems represents a sustained source of psychological burden that remains insufficiently characterized, particularly among forensic odontologists. Greater methodological standardization, clearer differentiation between trauma-related outcomes, and improved integration of psychological preparedness within DVI training and forensic education are needed.</p>

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Post-traumatic stress in disaster victim identification personnel: a scoping review with implications for forensic odontology

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

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  • Carlos Muñoz-Villagrán,
  • Gabriel M. Fonseca

摘要

Background

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) personnel are routinely exposed to human remains under extreme operational conditions. Although the psychological impact of this work has been increasingly recognized, post-traumatic stress disorder and related trauma-associated outcomes remain insufficiently characterized in forensic and DVI-related occupations, particularly in forensic odontology (FO). This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related psychological outcomes among personnel involved in work with human remains in DVI and mass fatality settings, with particular emphasis on forensic odontology.

Main body

A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews framework. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by manual searches and targeted Google Scholar screening. Studies evaluating occupational exposure to human remains in DVI, disaster, or mass fatality operations and reporting trauma-related psychological outcomes were considered eligible. Sixteen studies published between 1982 and February 2026 were included. The literature described post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), psychological distress, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and related emotional responses among personnel involved in body recovery, mortuary operations, postmortem (PM) identification, and disaster response activities. Reported risk factors included direct exposure to severely damaged remains, prolonged operational involvement, limited prior experience, inadequate preparation, and insufficient institutional support. Protective factors included training, anticipatory preparation, team cohesion, peer support, and psychological coping strategies. Evidence specifically addressing forensic odontologists and other dental personnel involved in forensic identification remained limited. The available studies frequently grouped together professionals with markedly different levels of forensic specialization, DVI experience, and psychological preparation, limiting more precise understanding of occupational vulnerability within FO. Considerable heterogeneity was also observed regarding study design, populations, outcome definitions, and assessment instruments.

Conclusion

Exposure to human remains within DVI systems represents a sustained source of psychological burden that remains insufficiently characterized, particularly among forensic odontologists. Greater methodological standardization, clearer differentiation between trauma-related outcomes, and improved integration of psychological preparedness within DVI training and forensic education are needed.