JAMA Netw Open

Can a 6‑week online course prevent PTSD in new paramedics?

February 17, 2026

A randomized trial of 570 paramedic trainees in England found that an internet‑delivered cognitive resilience program (iCT‑R) significantly reduced new cases of PTSD or major depressive disorder (MDD) over 12 months compared with psychoeducation or standard training. Participants receiving iCT‑R had 80% lower odds of meeting diagnostic criteria than those receiving psychoeducation and 75% lower odds than those receiving standard practice, with an estimated number needed to treat of 18–24 to prevent one case.

Clinical takeaway: Brief, scalable resilience‑focused cognitive training may help protect early career paramedics from developing stress‑related mental health disorders.

Source:

Wild J, et al. (2026, February 2). JAMA Netw Open. Cognitive Resilience Training to Prevent PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder in Paramedic Recruits: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41661593/