Healthcare professionals in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) globally face a high risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and comorbid psychological conditions, a crisis exacerbated in resource-constrained and conflict-affected settings. This study aimed to establish the comorbidities associated with PTSD among ICU healthcare professionals in high-stress hospitals in Kumbo, Cameroon. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 134 ICU staff (nurses, physicians, auxiliary staff) from two general hospitals, including Saint Elizabeth General Hospital and Banso Baptist Hospital. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of independence. The results revealed a near-universal prevalence of probable PTSD (94.8%), accompanied by high rates of probable depression (82.8%), probable anxiety (85.1%), and burnout risk or diagnosis (86.6%). However, statistical analyses found no significant associations between PTSD status and depression (χ²(1)=1.53, p=.216, φ=.11), anxiety (χ²(1)=1.08, p=.298, φ=.09), or burnout (χ²(2)=0.47, p=.791, Cramér's V=.06). The lack of significant association indicates that these conditions form a pervasive syndemic of distress affecting the entire workforce uniformly, rather than impacting a subset of individuals. The conclusion is that the extreme context creates a universal psychological burden, necessitating a paradigm shift from individual-focused interventions to systemic, organization-wide reforms to address the root causes of this occupational health crisis.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, comorbidities, healthcare workers

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